TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Steel Exports

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultation she has had with representatives from the steel industry about exports of steel.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had meetings with steel industry representatives and trade unions which represent steel industry workers, about a wide range of issues.

Workers' Rights

Bill Rammell: To ask Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will conduct a further review of the rights of people at work.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced plans at the TUC Conference to review the entire operation of the Employment Relations Act 1999 and to legislate in this Parliament if necessary. We are also consulting, or are about to, on other aspects of employment legislation, including TUPE and the introduction of new rights on discrimination at work.

Consignia

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of Consignia reform plans on (a) postal jobs in Wales and (b) the postal service in Wales.

Douglas Alexander: Consignia's modernisation plans are an operational issue for the company.
	The effect of the postal service is an issue for the independent regulatory body, the Postal Services Commission, which has set standards of service for Consignia and is monitoring them closely.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the contribution of the regional development agencies, Government offices and the Small Business Service to the development of child care services as part of economic regeneration and enterprise development in the last 12 months.

Nigel Griffiths: This important matter was raised with all RDA chairmen on 4 April. DTI officials have since met with the east midlands RDA who are taking a lead on how the provision of child care might be boosted.
	We expect the RDAs, the SBS and Government offices to promote the development of child care services as a vital component of the strategy for future economic growth and prosperity.

Tyre Industry

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has made an assessment of the performance of the UK tyre-building industry; and if she will make a statement.

Dennis Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the performance of the UK tyre-building industry; and if she will make a statement.

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from the UK tyre-building industry about international competition; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department has received representations from a number of hon. Members and the major tyre producers in the UK. My hon. Friend the Minister for Employment and the Regions will meet a delegation from the Parliamentary Motor Tyre Group in the near future to discuss the issue further.

Competitiveness

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve the UK's position in the world competitiveness league table.

Patricia Hewitt: Improving UK competitiveness involves business, employees and consumers as well as Government. The Government have created a stable economic environment in which business can prosper, a climate for enterprise and the right framework for investment. We delivered low inflation, the lowest long-term interest rates for 35 years and consistent policies on tax and regulation. Last week I announced a series of changes to give my own Department a clear emphasis on enterprise, innovation and competition so that it is better focused on the need to close the UK's productivity gap with its competitors.

Manufacturing (Smart Awards)

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution Smart awards have made to improving the productivity of manufacturing businesses.

Patricia Hewitt: The main aim of Smart is to stimulate technological innovation to increase the competitiveness of small and medium sized businesses, rather than to increase productivity. The independent evaluation of Smart this year found that as a result of their awards 77 per cent. of participants improved the quality of their products, services and processes, 26 per cent. reduced costs and 71 per cent. improved their market position.

Broadband Communications

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in extending broadband telecommunications to rural communities.

Douglas Alexander: Broadband services by one or more of ADSL, cable or wireless technologies are available to 60–60 per cent. of households in the UK. Satellite services, which potentially can offer coverage of the entire country, are beginning to become available. We have established a £30 million fund to help extend affordable broadband services to areas where they are not currently available.

Broadband Communications

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to improve access to broadband telecommunications networks in 2002.

Douglas Alexander: The Government will shortly set out their strategy for making the broadband market more extensive and competitive. Regional Development Agencies and the devolved administrations are already preparing plans for innovative projects, under the £30 million fund to extend broadband networks announced on 9 October.

Manufacturing (North-west)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has made of prospects for manufacturing output in the north-west of England.

Alan Johnson: Officials at the Department of Trade and Industry work continuously with regional and national partners to assess the prospects for all sectors of industry. In addition, the North West Development Agency is preparing a report assessing the impact of the events of 11 September and its aftermath on the economy of the region and identifying possible remedial measures.

Compliance Costs (Small Businesses)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the change in the compliance cost of regulation for businesses with fewer than five employees since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The information required could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, the Government are working to ensure that the compliance cost of regulation is kept to a minimum for both small and large businesses.

Rural Post Office Services

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Post Office services in rural areas.

Douglas Alexander: The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices and have placed a formal requirement on the Post Office to maintain the rural network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices.

Venture Capital Funds (RDAs)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation of the regional development agency venture capital funds.

Alan Johnson: A number of RDAs are operating, or overseeing the development of venture capital funds in their regions. These funds are designed to target particular sectors of the SME market or geographical areas within their region, for example in the West Midlands there is the Advantage Technology Fund, in the North East the North East Seed Capital Fund and in Yorkshire and the Humber the South Yorkshire Investment Fund.
	In addition, RDAs continue to play an important role by acting as sponsors to the development of Regional Venture Capital Funds.

Aerospace Industry

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on the aerospace industry of the reduction in the number of passengers since 11 September.

Brian Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins) and for Caerphilly (Mr. David) on 29 November 2001, Official Report, columns 1087–88.

Miners' Compensation

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent progress has been made in the payment of compensation for former miners and their dependants.

Brian Wilson: In relation to compensation for respiratory disease IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered almost 170,000 claims to date. 54,230 individual payments have been made, amounting to £221 million. The main outstanding issues have now largely been resolved. This means that where previously only interim payments could be made, these claims can now be settled in full. Although it will take some time for the process to ramp up fully in all respects, the Department's aim is that IRISC will have made 50,000 offers by the end of next year.
	The Department continues to adhere to the prioritisation agreement set out in the Handling Agreement, whereby the most elderly and ill claimants are dealt with first. Widows are also being prioritised, above those by other estates. The Department aims to process the most vulnerable claims by spring 2002.
	In relation to compensation for vibration white finger (VWF), IRISC have registered over 130,000 claims. There have been 73,527 individual payments made, amounting to £408.9 million.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of nuclear power generation capacity.

Brian Wilson: Nuclear power contributes to our broad energy policy objectives of ensuring secure, diverse, sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices by providing about one quarter of UK electricity generation and helping limit carbon emissions. In common with all other energy options, nuclear's role in UK energy policy is being considered by the current performance and innovation unit energy review which is due to report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by the end of the year.

Manufacturing (Rural Areas)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to help manufacturing in rural areas.

Alan Johnson: Manufacturing companies in rural areas benefit from the strengthened regional support we have introduced and the wide range of policies we are pursuing to foster productivity, encourage enterprise, and raise innovation and skills.
	My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for small business announced on 7 November 2001 the establishment of the Development Fund for Rural Renewal. This £3 million support programme will provide funding for projects that offer support to enterprises, including manufacturing, in areas facing difficulties due to the effects of foot and mouth disease.

Gender Pay Gap

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to eliminate the gender pay gap.

Patricia Hewitt: Earlier this year we asked Denise Kingsmill to examine and report on possible measures to improve women's employment prospects and so reduce the pay gap. We are currently considering her report, which will be published next week. It would be premature to make a statement today.

Climate Change Levy

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received recently from manufacturing industry on the effects of the climate change levy.

Brian Wilson: The Department has received a number of representations from individual businesses, trade associations and other organisations about the climate change levy.

Directors' Remuneration

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the power of shareholders to determine directors' remuneration.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 1376W.

Clean Coal Technology

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prospects for clean coal technology.

Brian Wilson: Future coal-fired power generation will need to reduce its current levels of greenhouse gas and other emissions and to this effect the Government support a programme of research and development into cleaner coal technologies. We are also reviewing the case for a cleaner coal technology demonstration plant and are due to report our findings in the near future.

Regional Development Agencies

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she will take to enhance the role of the regional development agencies.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is continuing the process of enhancement of the RDAs started last year with the announcement of additional funding, more spending flexibility and a stronger economic focus. Implementation culminates on 1 April 2002 when the RDAs' existing programmes are brought together into a single, broader and more flexible programme managed through testing outcome and output targets. She also announced on 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 396W, a series of changes to the structure and operation of her Department. One change will be the transfer of responsibility for some Regional Selective Assistance grants from Regional Government Offices to the RDAs.

Regional Development Agencies

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes in board membership there have been in each of the regional development agencies in the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 27 November 2001
	In the 12 months to 26 November, there have been four resignations: Mike Bird resigned from the board of Advantage West Midlands and Sal Brinton, Chris Mole and Peter Dawe resigned from the board of the East of England Development Agency.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 250W which announced re-appointments to the boards.
	I am currently consulting on the new appointments to the eight English Regional Development Agencies outside London, as required by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. An announcement on the outcome of the appointments process will be made in due course.
	Appointments to the London Development Agency are the responsibility of the Mayor of London.

High-tech Businesses

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to create a healthy environment for encouraging the growth of high-tech businesses.

Douglas Alexander: The DTI is committed to supporting high-tech companies and is engaged in a range of activities to assist these companies reach their full growth potential.

Hydrological Fracturing

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent representations her Department has received regarding the technology and engineering involved in hydrological fracturing;
	(2)  what recent research has been done by her Department into the effects of hydrological fracturing;
	(3)  what (a) quantitive and (b) qualitative research methods were used in studies by her Department on hydrological fracturing; who commissioned such studies; and what examples of field trial stages have been published;
	(4)  what recent research has been completed by the relevant authorities on the environmental, commercial and social effects of hydrological fracturing.

Brian Wilson: My Department, as part of its Cleaner Coal Technology Programme, has funded a number of projects that included work on hydrological fracturing, although it has not commissioned specific R&D on this subject.
	The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has funded research into hydrogeology, including the hydrological fracturing of rock and other media. NERC's British Geological Survey (BGS) has undertaken work reviewing the use of the technology of fracturing in Coal Bed Methane production. A list of the NERC research portfolio, including grants funded through NERC's Micro to Macro programme, is listed below on Annexe 1.
	Annexe 1
	Hydrological Fracturing: Grants funded by NERC 1997–98 to date
	Non-thematic grants
	ROPA Seismic imaging of subseismic natural fracture systems (1996–98, British Geological Survey)
	Basement structural controls on fault architectures, accommodation zones and sedimentation in rift systems (1996–2000, Royal Holloway)
	Fracture characterisation of deep repository sites (1998–99, Imperial College)
	Self-organisation of fluid flow, chemical reactivity and rock strength in porous reservoir rocks (1999–2001, Edinburgh University)
	The hydraulic properties of rock fractures under normal and shear loading (1996–97, Imperial College)
	Submarine rifting laboratory studies of tensile and extensional fracture in mor rocks, leading to numerical models of tectonic and hydrothermal process (1995–97, University College, London)
	Localised flow in fractured rock masses: mechanisms, modelling and characterisation (1999–2002, Imperial College)
	Modelling porosity development and flow in heterogeneous media (1999–2001, British Geological Survey)
	Scaling of fluid behaviour associated with flow through complex geological structures (1999–2001, Leeds University)
	Fully determined fluid velocity fields for complex 2D media with multi-scaled heterogeneity (2000–03, University of Ulster)
	Fracture induced anisotropic seismic attenuation (2001–03, Imperial College)
	Characterisation of the unsaturated hydraulic properties of the Sherwood Sandstone using combined cross-borehole radar and resistivity tomography (1998–2000, Lancaster University)
	The significance of saline fluids in high-temperature deep-crustal metamorphism (1999–2002, Edinburgh University)
	Vadose zone flow mechanisms in hydraulically layered aquifers using time domain reflectometry (2000–02, Leeds University)
	Molecular modelling of clay-fluid interactions under sedimentary basin conditions: the structure and mobility of water and light hydrocarbons (1999–2002, University College London)
	Exceptional porosity in oil-bearing sandstones (2000–02, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre)
	Thematic grants—Micro to Macro programme
	Analysis of reaction and flow in stochastically heterogeneous porous media (1999–2001, Cambridge University)
	New micro-geochemical traces of fluid and solute transport in sedimentary basins (1999–1999, Edinburgh University)
	Scaling properties of fluid flow in fractured rocks (1999–2002, University College London)
	Controls of matrix and fracture flow from geochemical analysis of produced oil (2000–02, Reading University)
	Localised flow in fractured rock masses mechanisms, modelling and characterisation (1999–2002, Southampton University/ Imperial College)
	Determination of hydraulic properties of distributed fractures using seismic techniques (1999–2002, Cambridge University/ British Geological Survey)
	Modelling porosity development and flow on heterogeneous media (1999–2001, British Geological Survey)
	Scaling of fluid behaviour associated with flow through complex geological structures (1999–2001, Leeds University)
	Quantifying the effects of biofilm growth on hydraulic properties and on sorption equilibria: micro to macro measurements (2000–02, Manchester University)
	Multi-scale fluid-flow path analysis: calibration and modelling using mineralisation systems (2000–02, Imperial College)
	Cementation of oilfield sandstones: micro-geochemical tracers, reveal macro-fluid hydrogeology (2000–02, Edinburgh University)
	Fully determined fluid velocity fields for complex 2D media with multi-scaled heterogeneity (2000–02, Ulster University)
	The scaling behaviour of fluid rock flow in rock fractures (2000–02, Aberdeen University)
	Novel flow and transport models for systems exhibiting non-integer flow dimensions (2000–02, University College London)
	Determination of hydraulic properties of distributed fractures using seismic techniques (1999–2002, British Geological Survey/Cambridge University)
	Modelling porosity development and flow in heterogeneous media (1999–2001, University College London)
	Multi-scale fluid-flow path analysis calibration and modelling using mineralisation systems (2000–02, Leeds University)
	Quantifying the scaling of physical transport in structured heterogeneous porous media (2001–04, Birmingham University)
	Thematic grants—Ocean Drilling Programme
	High resolution fluid flow patterns at the Nankai convergent plate margin (2001–04, University of Wales, Aberystwyth)
	Grants relating to coal measures and methane
	Hydrogeology of flooded, abandoned mine workings—an integrated hydraulic/hydrogeochemical analysis (2000–2000, Newcastle-upon-Tyne University)
	Urban regeneration of coalfields: generic studies of contaminated land and groundwater issues exemplified in Wolverhampton (1998–2002, Sheffield University/British Geological Survey).

Nuclear Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the annual budget for the Office for Civil Nuclear Security; and if she has plans to increase the budget following the events of 11 September.

Brian Wilson: The budget for the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) is approximately £1.5 million in the current year. The measures which need to be taken following the events of 11 September, including nuclear security, are currently under review.

Nuclear Security

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the competitiveness of the nuclear power industry of additional security requirements since 11 September.

Brian Wilson: No such assessment has been undertaken.

Workplace Bullying

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce monitoring of the incidence of workplace bullying.

Alan Johnson: Bullying and harassment have no place in today's work environment and are unacceptable whenever they occur. The Government strongly condemn such behaviour and believe employees should be able to work without fear of encountering bullying from their employers or anyone else.
	The adoption of best employment relations practice should help create a culture where bullying becomes unacceptable. We have established the Partnership Fund which provides support for organisations wishing to develop policies to tackle bullying in the workplace. The Department is also working closely with the Health and Safety Executive on the development of management standards. The first step is to undertake research to establish the real extent of the problem and how it manifests itself in the workplace.
	There is a range of legislative measures in place designed to protect employees from the worst offences.

Economic Development Zone (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) organisations, (b) interest groups, (c) individuals and (d) community forums have been consulted in relation to the bid put forward to the regional development agency by Lancaster city council for an economic development zone.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 26 November 2001
	Lancaster's bid is endorsed by the Lancaster and Morecambe Local Strategic Partnership. If accepted, the EDZ strategy will be implemented through an Action Plan Partnership based on the existing broadly-based Lancaster Single Regeneration Budget Board. Steps have been taken to ensure key partners are fully involved and informed.

Export Licences

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives the Export Control Office is taking to reduce the processing time of licence applications.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 27 November 2001
	The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective system for export licensing which is accountable, transparent and customer focused. I have introduced "time-lines" to track cases. The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has taken a number of initiatives to reduce the time taken to process individual export licence applications. These include:
	building productive customer relationships, including setting up a joint CBI/ECO working group to work with exporters to address issues of concern, including delays in processing export licence applications;
	enhancing IT systems to ensure they deliver further business process improvements. It is planned that this will lead to, amongst other things, standard individual export licence applications being accepted over the internet next year;
	establishing more effective partnerships with other Government Departments. Departments involved in the licensing process have agreed in principle to a Service Level Agreement, which we hope to finalise shortly. This will ensure that Departments work better together and focus more sharply on outputs; and
	establishing new structures which allow us to continually review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the decision making process. There are regular meetings between officials in all Departments involved in the export licensing process to identify ways of improving the export licensing system, as well as to discuss particular licence applications.

One North East

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons Mr. Hugh Morgan Williams has been removed from the board of One North East; and if a representative of the North East CBI is to be appointed in his place.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 27 November 2001
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 250W, which announced the decision to implement a rolling programme of board appointments. To achieve this it was necessary for some effective RDA board members to make way for new appointees. Hugh Morgan Williams will not be reappointed to the board of One North East when his appointment term ends in December 2001. The decision not to reappoint Hugh Morgan Williams was no reflection on his performance and I hope he will feel able to continue his involvement in the regeneration of the North East.
	New appointments under the rolling programme will be announced shortly. These appointments are being made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Board members are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of organisations. They are appointed on merit and for the skills and expertise that they can offer.

Arms Purchasing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on sustainable development in relation to arms purchasing.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 28 November 2001
	Under the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria the Government are currently obliged to take into account whether or not a proposed arms export would seriously undermine the economy or seriously hamper the sustainable development of the recipient country. Under clause 8 of the Export Control Bill, these criteria would be treated as published guidance that the Government must have regard to in making licensing decisions.

British Arms Manufacturers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what controls there are to ensure that British arms manufacturers who manufacture arms abroad are regulated properly.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 28 November 2001
	Controls already apply to the export of goods or technology required for the development, production or use of military equipment and other equipment subject to export control. Such controls would apply to exports intended for use in overseas production. The Export Control Bill would add to the range of controls available to Government by providing the power to control the electronic transfer of military technology currently only applicable for dual-use items. The Government are consulting EU partners about including an explicit reference to overseas production in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

British Arms Manufacturers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures contained in the Export Controls Bill will control the activities of British brokers in supplying arms if they make a deal outside of the United Kingdom.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 28 November 2001
	Clause 4 of the Export Control Bill would provide the Secretary of State with powers to make orders in connection with trade controls, commonly referred to as trafficking and brokering. This power would allow such controls to be imposed on acts carried out abroad by a United Kingdom person or by a person acting under the control of a United Kingdom person. As set out in the dummy orders relating to the Bill, which were made available to Parliament in October, the Government propose to introduce controls on trafficking and brokering by United Kingdom persons overseas of equipment whose export has been banned because of evidence of its use in torture and long-range missiles, and trafficking and brokering by such persons to any destination subject to a UN, EU, OSCE or UK arms embargo.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the (a) operations and (b) procedures in the Government Office for the North West.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has recently carried out a review of the business support functions of the whole Department, including those services provided via the Government Offices. On 22 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced key changes to be made to the role of the Government Offices. A review of the Government Office for the North West's performance during the first half of the 2001–02 financial year, against outcomes set in the Department of Trade and Industry's Business Plan, is under way.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) advice and (b) support the Government Office for the North West can provide to businesses on management buyouts.

Alan Johnson: The Government Office for the North West and partners, including the Small Business Service and the North West Development Agency, provide general advice to businesses on a wide range of issues. Where a company is situated in an Assisted Area, the Government Office may be able to offer direct financial support for the management buyout.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason no file was held at the Government Office for the North West on the closure of Thomas Witter in Chorley.

Alan Johnson: The Government Office for the North West holds files where companies seek financial assistance or some other substantive relationship. No such approach has been received from Thomas Witter Ltd.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the role of the Government Office for the North West is in helping businesses that have been taken into administration.

Alan Johnson: The role the Government Office for the North West is to provide advice and support to local companies, whatever their situation, or to direct them to the most appropriate sources of advice and support. Provision of financial assistance depends on a number of factors including the size of the company concerned, the nature of its business and its location.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the quality of the operation of the Government Office for the North West; and if she will make a statement on the future of the Government Office for the North West.

Alan Johnson: A review of the Government Office for the North West's performance during the first half of the 2001–02 financial year, against outcomes set in the Department of Trade and Industry's Business Plan, is under way. On 22 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced key changes that will be made to the DTI, including changes to the role of the Government Offices. There will continue to be a need for a strong DTI presence in the Government Office, but with a greater emphasis on influencing the whole range of government activity in the regions and on playing a stronger role in helping to shape policy and strategy centrally.

Government Office for the North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the Government Office for the North West played in relation to Thomas Witter; and what procedures will be in place for staff at the Government Office for the North West to deal with the case of Thomas Witter.

Alan Johnson: Government Office officials brought the case of Thomas Witter Ltd. to the attention of the North West Development Agency, who agreed to consider whether support might be available from the intervention fund. Staff at the Government Office for the North West will continue to follow the correct procedures in dealing with this case.

Aluminium Industry

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) employment situation in the British aluminium industry.

Brian Wilson: With greater consolidation in the world aluminium industry over the last two years, rationalisation is inevitable. In response to the downturn in world aluminium markets major global players, notably Alcan and Alcoa (which both own plant in the UK), have brought forward plans for restructuring their respective global operations. Along with other countries, the UK will be affected.

Solar Power

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the total amounts of grant aid available in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 for the installation of domestic solar water heating systems, together with (i) the name of each local project responsible for administering this budget, (ii) the targets set in these financial years for each local project and (iii) their budget allocation.

Brian Wilson: There are no grants available for the installation of solar water heating systems from central Government at present, though professionally installed systems have benefited from a reduced rate (5 per cent.) of VAT since April 2000. Government do not maintain a register of the number of systems installed and neither does the trade association, though it is probably somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 systems a year.
	There are various incentives and grants available from individual local authorities and organisations and from some utilities. Some useful examples can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website www.practicalhelp.org.uk or on the website of the trade association www.solartradeassociation.org.uk

Solar Power

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the total amount of grant aid available in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, for the installation of photovoltaic panels and roofing together with (i) the name of each local project responsible for administering the budget, (ii) the targets set in both of these financial years and (iii) their budget allocation.

Brian Wilson: The Department has funded two rounds of the Domestic PV Systems Field Trial in 2000 and 2001, together supporting some 32 projects (over 500 homes) for the budget of £5.4 million. In addition, a Call for Proposals for the Large-Scale Building—Integrated PV Field Trial for Public Buildings is currently open. This should see around 15 projects on schools, hospitals etc. being supported for the budget of £3 million, and the results should be known by the end of February 2002.
	The names of the nine project teams from the first round of the Domestic Field Trial will be included in a newsletter being prepared by the Building Research Establishment, and a copy will be sent to my hon. Friend and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Summaries of the 23 successful projects from the second round are attached to the press release of 22 October on the DTI website, www.dti.gov.uk. No targets were set for these financial years.
	Looking to the future, the Department is currently working up the design for the first phase of the Major PV Demonstration Programme, announced in the Government's White Paper "Opportunity for All" on 13 February 2001. This has £20 million allocated over the next two financial years, and it is envisaged it will be open to applications from all types and sizes of building, with an average 50 per cent. capital grant on offer. There are no specific targets as yet, but it is expected that the first phase will result in up to 3,000 domestic roof-top systems and a couple of hundred larger non-domestic installations. Targets for subsequent phases will depend on the success of the first phase and the level of funding available.

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if the Government have (a) transferred and (b) approved the transfer of controlled goods to (i) the Northern Alliance, (ii) its component factions and (iii) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan since 11 September;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to facilitate the delivery of controlled goods to (a) the Northern Alliance, (b) its component factions and (c) other non-state actors operating in or around Afghanistan;
	(3)  what plans the Government have to transfer controlled goods to (a) the Northern Alliance, (b) its component factions and (c) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan;
	(4)  if the Government have facilitated the delivery of controlled goods to (a) the Northern Alliance, (b) its component factions and (c) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan since 11 September;
	(5)  what plans the Government have to fund weapons purchases by (a) the Northern Alliance, (b) its component factions and (c) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan;
	(6)  if the Government have funded weapons purchases by (a) the Northern Alliance, (b) its component factions and (c) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan since 11 September.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are involved in military operations in self-defence against international terrorists within Afghanistan. Information and plans about these operations are extremely sensitive, and it would not be in the public interest for them to be disclosed. In my opinion, exemptions 1a) and b) (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply here.

Public Service Orders

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds are available from (a) the Treasury and (b) the EU for the subsidising of public service orders.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Public Service Obligations (PSOs) are at present imposed in the UK only on lifeline routes within Scotland. These routes receive subsidies from the Scottish Executive and the Island Councils. There is no provision for the EU to subsidise air services which are subject to PSOs.

DEFENCE

War Pensions

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the new rates of war pensions and allowances proposed from April 2002.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is set out in the table. The Annual uprating of war pensions and allowances for 2002 will take place from the week beginning 8 April.
	
		War pensions rates -- Weekly rates unless otherwise shown
		
			  Rates 2001 Rates 2002 
		
		
			 Disablement Pensions (100% rates)   
			 Officer (£ per annum) 6,251.00 6,356.00 
			 Other ranks 119.80 121.80 
			
			 Age allowances   
			 40–50% 8.00 8.15 
			 over 50 but not over 70% 12.35 12.55 
			 over 70 but over 90% 17.55 17.85 
			 over 90% 24.70 25.10 
			
			 Disablement gratuity   
			 Specified minor injury (minimum) 762.00 775.00 
			 Specified minor injury (maximum) 5,695.00 5,792.00 
			 Unspecified minor injury (minimum) 316.00 321.00 
			 Unspecified minor injury (maximum) 7,406.00 7,532.00 
			
			 Unemployability allowance   
			 Personal 74.00 75.25 
			 Adult dependency increase 41.75 42.45 
			 Increase for first child 9.70 9.85 
			 Increase for subsequent children 11.35 11.55 
			
			 Invalidity allowance   
			 Higher rate 14.65 14.90 
			 Middle rate 9.30 9.50 
			 Lower rate 4.65 4.75 
			
			 Constant attendance allowance   
			 Exception rate 90.40 92.00 
			 Intermediate rate 67.80 69.00 
			 Full day rate 45.20 46.00 
			 Part day rate 22.60 23.00 
			
			 Comforts allowance   
			 Higher rate 19.40 19.70 
			 Lower rate 9.70 9.85 
			
			 Mobility supplement 43.10 43.85 
			
			 Allowance for lowered standard of occupation (maximum) 45.16 45.92 
			
			 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 45.20 46.00 
			
			 Severe disablement occupational allowance 22.60 23.00 
			
			 Clothing allowance (£ per annum) 154.00 157.00 
			
			 Education allowance (£ per annum) (maximum) 120.00 120.00 
			 War widow's pension   
			 Widow (private) 90.45 92.00 
			 Widow (NCO) 90.75 92.30 
			 Widow—officer (£ pa maximum) 5,594.00 5,689.00 
			 Childless widow u-40 (private) 21.75 22.12 
			 Childless widow u-40 (NCO) 21.75 22.12 
			 Childless widow (Officer maximum £s pa) 5,594.00 5,689.00 
			
			 Supplementary pension 58.95 59.95 
			
			 Age allowance   
			 (a) age 65 to 69 10.35 10.55 
			 (b) age 70 to 79 19.85 20.20 
			 (c) age 80 and over 29.55 30.05 
			
			 Children's allowance   
			 Increase for first child 14.30 14.55 
			 Increase for subsequent children 15.95 16.20 
			
			 Orphan's pension   
			 Increase for first child 16.20 16.50 
			 Increase for subsequent children 17.85 18.15 
			
			 Unmarried dependant living as spouse (maximum) 88.40 89.95 
			
			 Rent allowance (maximum) 34.20 34.80 
			
			 Adult orphan's pension (maximum) 69.75 70.95 
			 Widower's pension   
			 Private (maximum) 90.45 92.00 
			 Officer (£ per annum) (maximum) 5,594.00 5,689.00

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the properties at RAF Halton which his Department (a) has disposed of in the last five years, (b) classifies as surplus to requirements and (c) plans to classify as surplus to requirements.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 26 November 2001
	Three minor disposals of garden or amenity land of minimal value have been made over the past five years. In addition, 12 properties were transferred permanently to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) as part of the sale of the Married Quarters Estate in November 1996 with a further 82 properties following on 1 June 2001.
	Halton Hospital plus an area adjoining the south-west corner known as The Old Pumping Station at Warneford Avenue (0.4ha) has been classified as surplus to requirements. A further 57 properties are likely to be handed back to AHL in March 2002.
	Halton House officers' mess may become surplus in due course. However, the ongoing Defence Training Review includes RAF Halton and it is too early to say what the outcome will be. There are no plans to declare any further family quarters at Halton surplus to requirements in the foreseeable future.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Defence Estates has set a target date for the disposal of the site of the Princess Mary Hospital, RAF Halton.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 26 November 2001
	We anticipate that the site will be sold in March 2003.

Civil Affairs Group

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and where elements of the Civil Affairs Group have been deployed on operations; and what the number of personnel involved was.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 November 2001
	The Civil Affairs Group was formed initially in 1997. The numbers of Civil Affairs Group personnel deployed on operations, and the locations and dates of those deployments are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Dates Number Regular TA 
		
		
			 OP Palatine—Bosnia
			 
			 November 1997 to May 1998 (1)4 — 4 
			 November 1997 to May 1998 (1),(3)4 4 2 
			  (2)2 — — 
			 
			 OP Agricola—Macedonia/Kosovo/Albania
			 
			 February 1999 to June 1999 (1)1 1 — 
			 April 1999 to July 1999 (1)3 — 3 
			  (2)2 — 2 
			 June to July 1999 (1)2 1 1 
			  (2)2 2 — 
			 July 1999 to August 1999 (1)2 — 2 
			  (2)2 — 2 
			 July 1999 to October 1999 (1),(3)2 — 2 
			  (2)2 — 2 
			 October 1999 to December 1999 (1),(3)3 — 3 
			  (2)3 1 2 
			 May 2001 to January 2002 (2)1 — 1 
			 
			 OP Langar—East Timor
			 
			 August 1999 to September 1999 (1)1 1 — 
			 September 1999 to December 1999 (1)1 1 — 
			 
			 OP Pallister/Silkman—Sierra Leone
			 
			 April 1999 to June 1999 (1)2 2 — 
			 November 2000 to February 2001 (1)1 1 — 
			 January 2001 to June 2001 (1)1 — 1 
			  (2)1 1 — 
			 February 2001 to May 2001 (1)1 1 — 
			 June 2001 to October 2001 (2)2 2 — 
			 September 2001 to January 2002 (1)2 — 2 
		
	
	(1) Officers
	(2) Other ranks (ORs)
	(3) Denote that the numbers include personnel not on the Civil Affairs Group establishment but who were trained by the Group and deployed with them to undertake Civil Affairs and Civil/Military Co-operation tasks.

Civil Affairs Group

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to deploy elements of the Civil Affairs Group to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 November 2001
	The situation in Afghanistan continues to be fluid and our forces remain well balanced to respond to events as they unfold. A core force package, including a detachment from the Civil Affairs Group, is maintained at very high readiness to deploy if required. Personnel from the Civil Affairs Group are already involved in planning and liaison tasks outside Afghanistan.

POWs (Far East)

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the advice as to their qualification on nationality grounds offered in the War Pensions Agency's leaflet 12 to potential claimants of the ex-gratia payment for British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during World War Two conforms to current guidance.

Lewis Moonie: Yes. The War Pensions Agency Leaflet No. 12 lists among the potential claimants for the ex-gratia payment "surviving British civilians who were interned by the Japanese in the Far East during the Second World War". A separate War Pensions Agency note explaining the requirement to confirm a bloodline to the United Kingdom and how this can be done, is sent out with each claim form.

EU Rapid Reaction Force

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes of role his Department has assessed to be required for the proposed EU rapid reaction force in consequence of the 11 September attacks.

Geoff Hoon: There are no plans for a standing EU rapid reaction force.
	While the capabilities being developed under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) can also play an important role in any military response to international terrorism, the scope of ESDP should remain firmly focused on crisis-management tasks.

Armed Forces (Drugs)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the armed forces compulsory drug testing programme; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Our policy is that drug misuse is incompatible with service in the armed forces. The use of random compulsory drug testing of staff sends a clear message to service personnel about this policy. In addition, it provides a means of measuring the level of drug misuse in the services, and whether the misuse of a particular drug, or class of drugs, is on the increase or is in decline. It is also an important means with which to assess and audit the effectiveness of the education programmes run by each of the services.

Territorial Army

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 373W, on the Territorial Army, for what reason the decision was taken to re-tender for the national advertising contract.

Lewis Moonie: In accordance with normal practice the national advertising contract for the Territorial Army and Regular Army is subject to regular review. The Army Training and Recruiting Agency's recruiting authorities, in conjunction with the Central Office of Information, reviewed the current contract and concluded that there was a need to refresh the current advertising campaign and that this was best achieved by a process of re-tendering.

Gibraltar

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks have taken place with the Spanish Government on their refusal to permit British military aircraft to fly over their airspace to Gibraltar; and what reason has been given by the Spanish Government for refusing to permit British military aircraft to fly through Spanish air space en route to Gibraltar.

Adam Ingram: There have been no recent discussions with Spain about restrictions on British military aircraft flying through Spanish air space.

Army Personnel

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people (a) joined and (b) left the Army in each month between 1 May and 1 September.

Adam Ingram: The number of people joining and leaving the Army in each of the months between May and September is as follows:
	
		
			 Month Joined(4) Left(4) 
		
		
			 May 1,152 1,186 
			 June 782 1,257 
			 July 1,004 1,136 
			 August 1,157 1,084 
		
	
	(4) The table shows all personnel who joined or left UK regular forces with the exception of illegal absentees. The list includes transferees from other services, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and personnel joining from other nation's services.

Exercise Saif Sareea 2

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions he gave to joint chiefs of staff not to proceed with exercise Saif Sareea 2; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: None. The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its forward programme and re-evaluates all commitments in the defence plan to ensure that they represent good value for money. Given its scale and importance, Exercise Saif Sareea 2 was kept under particularly careful review to ensure that it met this criteria and the armed forces training requirements. In the early part of 2000 a number of options for the exercise were investigated as part of this process. The review confirmed the importance of carrying out an exercise on this scale and at this distance from the UK. Recent events have proved this to be the case.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) number and (b) nature of the casualties sustained among British armed forces in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: I can confirm that four service personnel were wounded on operations in Afghanistan, one seriously. They are all now back in the UK receiving treatment.

PRIME MINISTER

E-democracy

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to further e-democracy.

Tony Blair: I have asked my right hon. Friend the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons to chair a new Cabinet Committee on e-democracy. The composition and terms of reference of the new committee are:
	Ministerial Committee on e-Democracy (MISC17)
	Composition
	The President of the Council and the Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)
	Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
	Financial Secretary to the Treasury
	Minister without Portfolio
	Minister of State for Transport, Local Government and Regions
	Minister of State for Home Affairs
	Minister of State for Trade and Industry
	Minister of State for Cabinet Office
	Parliamentary Secretary for the Leader of the House of Commons Office
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills
	Invited to attend
	The e-Envoy
	Terms of Reference
	"To consider ways of strengthening the democratic process by engaging the public and their elected representatives through the use of the internet and other electronic means."

Pledge to British Muslims

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he (a) instructed or (b) agreed to the Cabinet secretary signing the pledge to British Muslims; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The secretary of the Cabinet signed the pledge as head of the home civil service because he thought it particularly important at this time to reassure Muslims and those of different faiths within the civil service through a positive statement of this kind. Diversity is an important part of the agenda for the reform of the civil service. He believed it to be a non- controversial statement put forward by a well-established organisation affiliated to the Muslim Council of Britain and he understood that it had the support of all the main political parties. He did not act under instruction.

Pledge to British Muslims

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister when he was invited by the Islamic Society of Britain to sign their pledge to British Muslims; when a text for the pledge was first communicated to him; when he agreed to sign; and whether the text first communicated to him was that which was signed on his behalf.

Tony Blair: It is not our practice to give details on such matters. The Deputy Prime Minister signed it on the Government's behalf and all three main political parties were represented at the launch of the pledge.

Pledge

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the pledges signed by (a) the holder of the office of Cabinet secretary and (b) himself since 1 May 1997.

Tony Blair: No record of pledges is kept. I signed a variety of expressions of support, as previous Prime Ministers have done before me.
	Successive secretaries of the Cabinet, as head of the home civil service, have made public commitments to the continued reform of the civil service and to particular aspects of it.

Suez Medal

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to issue a Suez medal for service between 1951 and 1954.

Tony Blair: The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals which advises Her Majesty the Queen on the issue of such medals has not made any recommendation on this issue. But I am sure it will consider any representations the hon. Member may wish to make on this matter.

International Crime Tribunal

Paul Marsden: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the United Nations Security Council to establish an international criminal tribunal to try the perpetrators of the attacks on 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: International criminal courts or tribunals are not a substitute for national jurisdictions, and never have been. They are there to take action against individuals who have committed crimes for which a relevant national jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to take action. That does not apply in this case. The United States has every justification to try those responsible for the attacks in its own country.

Decommissioning (IRA)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Prime Minister if he will request from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning the inventory of the weapons decommissioned by the IRA.

Tony Blair: On 23 October the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported that it had witnessed a quantity of IRA arms being put beyond use. It confirmed the material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosives.
	However, in the interest of furthering the decommissioning process, the Commission declined to provide further details. We all must respect the Commission's own judgment on how best to proceed to fulfill its mandate, the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms.
	I look forward to further progress on the arms issue alongside the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and the long-term stability of the Northern Ireland political institutions.

Saif Sareea 2

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the joint chiefs of the defence staff regarding (a) possible cancellation of and (b) reduction in the scope of exercise Saif Sareea 2.

Tony Blair: None.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Rail Regulator

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to change the powers of the Rail Regulator.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 16 November 2001
	We intend to streamline the existing structure while still recognising that there will be a continued need for some form of independent economic regulation.

Eurostar

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what track access charges have been paid by Eurostar for use of tracks (a) between Waterloo and the Channel Tunnel, (b) within the Channel Tunnel, (c) on French rail lines and (d) on Belgian rail lines, for each year since the commencement of operations.

David Jamieson: The Track Access Charges for Eurostar services are commercially sensitive and cannot therefore be made public.
	Track Access Charges in France and Belgium are not paid by Eurostar (UK) Ltd. but are dealt with by their business partners, SNCF and SNCB.

Car Ownership (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people owned a car in the Buckingham constituency in the last year for which information is available.

David Jamieson: The Department has no information on the number of people owning cars in the Buckingham constituency. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency record shows that the number of currently licensed cars registered to keepers in the Buckingham constituency at December 2000 was 44,899.

Registered Social Landlords

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) council and (b) Registered Social Landlord (RSL) properties there are where the target rents are below current rents at current prices; and how many and what percentage of (i) council and (ii) RSL properties there are in each English region where the target rent is at or below current rents at current prices.

Sally Keeble: The information is not currently available. Social landlords will only have completed their property valuations and calculated their target rents under the reforms around the end of this calendar year.

Registered Social Landlords

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the number and percentage of (a) council and (b) RSL rents scheduled to fall as a result of his policy to restructure rents in (i) England and (ii) each region.

Sally Keeble: The information is not available in the form requested. In particular, the figures critically depend on assumptions about what would have happened to rents in the absence of restructuring.

East Coast Main Line

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which phases of the infrastructure upgrades on the East Coast Line have so far been (a) started and on what date and (b) completed and on what date; on what dates the subsequent phases of the upgrades are due (i) to start and (ii) to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 23 November 2001
	Phase 1 of the project, which commenced in 1999, provides capacity improvements to the Leeds Station area and is expected to be completed by 2004–05. The Strategic Rail Authority is continuing to take forward project development work on the upgrade.

Millennium Dome

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has set a deadline for concluding (a) the sale and (b) a lease of (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the site of the Millennium Dome.

Sally Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 906W.

Millennium Dome

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what offers have been made (a) to purchase and (b) to lease (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the site of the Millennium Dome since 1 January.

Sally Keeble: While the process to secure a long-term use of the Dome continues, it would not be appropriate to publish such information, which is commercially confidential. To reveal any of these details would undermine on-going discussions, would not be conducive to a successful conclusion and would be against the public interest.

Social Housing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many houses were built by the 10 largest housing associations in each of the last three years; how many are projected for next financial year; and what grant was payable to each association in each of those years.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 27 November 2001
	(a) Based on information supplied by the Housing Corporation, the number of self-contained units built by the 10 largest housing associations in each of the last three years are as shown in the following three tables. Also shown is the total grant allocated to the housing association during each year for building purposes.
	
		
			  Self-contained units built  
			 1998–99 Total Built without subsidy Built with subsidy Allocation £000 
		
		
			 North British Housing Ltd. 795 112 683 16,092 
			 Sanctuary Housing Association 677 34 643 7,670 
			 London and Quadrant Housing Trust 532 0 532 14,828 
			 Riverside Housing Association Ltd. 465 0 465 8,812 
			 The Guinness Trust 439 0 439 10,295 
			 Hyde Housing Association Ltd. 432 13 419 13,299 
			 Northern Counties Housing Association Ltd. 392 114 278 5,337 
			 William Sutton Trust 327 0 327 4,512 
			 Home Group Ltd. 291 56 235 12,622 
			 Anchor Trust 282 0 282 3,892 
			  
			 Total 4,632 329 4,303 97,358 
		
	
	
		
			  Self-contained units built  
			 1999–2000 Total Built without subsidy Built with subsidy Allocation £000 
		
		
			 North British Housing Ltd. 1,131 569 562 14,947 
			 Home Group Ltd. 593 0 593 12,089 
			 The Guinness Trust 584 0 584 7,457 
			 Sanctuary Housing Association 495 5 490 2,894 
			 Hyde Housing Association Ltd. 458 17 441 10,650 
			 London and Quadrant Housing Trust 398 0 398 12,880 
			 Northern Counties Housing Association Ltd. 312 31 281 5,464 
			 Riverside Housing Association Ltd. 291 109 182 5,806 
			 Anchor Trust 151 0 151 11,147 
			 Paddington Churches Housing Association Ltd. 104 0 104 4,681 
			  
			 Total 4,517 731 3,786 88,016 
		
	
	
		
			  Self-contained units built  
			 2000–01 Total Built without subsidy Built with subsidy Allocation £000 
		
		
			 Home Group Ltd. 705 5 700 7,605 
			 North British Housing Ltd. 577 47 530 13,350 
			 The Guinness Trust 416 0 416 14,544 
			 Hyde Housing Association Ltd. 416 10 406 15,834 
			 Northern Counties Housing Association Ltd. 306 45 261 4,400 
			 London and Quadrant Housing Trust 284 0 284 22,106 
			 Riverside Housing Association Ltd. 274 62 212 4,827 
			 Anchor Trust 132 0 132 12,615 
			 Sanctuary Housing Association 111 0 111 6,315 
			 Peabody Trust 56 12 44 3,659 
			  
			 Total 3,277 181 3,096 105,255 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The top 10 RSLs/HAs by size, for each of the three periods, was determined by totalling, for each RSL, the following figures:
	their total stock of self-contained units;
	the number of hostel/shared housing bedspaces;
	the number of units where the RSL had an interest in a shared ownership scheme or a leasehold for the elderly scheme;
	the stock managed for non-RSLs (stock managed for other RSLs was excluded).
	2. It is important to note that grants allocated to an RSL may not necessarily be reflected in the number of units built within that same year.
	3. The total grant allocation is the sum of the ADP grant allocated by the Housing Corporation and the LASHG grant allocated by the local authority.
	4. The number of units built annually comprises new-build self-contained units only.
	(b) Housing Corporation allocations to the top 10 RSLs in 2001–02 for the construction of new units are as follows:
	
		
			  ADP allocation £000 Number of units to be built with this allocation 
		
		
			 Peabody Trust 17,736 243 
			 Riverside Housing Association Ltd. 2,034 95 
			 Sanctuary Housing Association 1,328 74 
			 Northern Counties Housing Association Ltd. 3,282 108 
			 North British Housing Ltd. 9,522 283 
			 Home Group Ltd. 11,569 288 
			 Hyde Housing Association Ltd. 15,565 315 
			 The Guinness Trust 9,883 243 
			 London and Quadrant Housing Trust 22,538 352 
			 Anchor Trust 8,153 140 
			  
			 Total 101,610 2,141 
		
	
	Note:
	The allocation figures represent the start-of-year position for accepted allocations prior to grant confirmation. Note that the allocation in the table refers to ADP allocations by the Housing Corporation only. Information on LASHG grants for the current year are not yet available.

Social Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households in council and RSL properties will not have reached their target rents by 2012–13.

Sally Keeble: The information is not available. In particular, rate of increase of actual council and RSL rents over the next 10 years will depend, among other things, on the outcome of future spending reviews (for council rents) and periodic reviews by the Housing Corporation (for RSL rents).

Aviation Industry

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what calculations his Department has made as to the additional costs incurred as a result of increased security measures at United Kingdom airports since 11 September by (a) United Kingdom airports, (b) airlines and (c) other service providers.

David Jamieson: Following informal contacts between my Department and the aviation industry we estimate that the extra security measures introduced since 11 September will have cost the aviation industry about £50 million by the end of the year.

Aviation Industry

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to assist (a) United Kingdom airports and (b) airlines in respect of additional costs incurred as a result of increased security measures at United Kingdom airports.

David Jamieson: We are considering whether emergency aid should be paid to the UK aviation industry to compensate for the events of 11 September, and we will take the guidelines on state aid issued by the European Commission and endorsed by the EU Transport Council fully into account in any decision.

Car Ownership (Arundel and South Downs)

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people owned a car in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs in the last year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The Department has no information on the number of people owning cars in the Arundel and South Downs constituency. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency record shows that the number of currently licensed cars registered to keepers in the Arundel and South Downs constituency at December 2000 was 47,966.

Homeless People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of non-secure lettings made by local authorities by region in each of the years 1997–98 to 2000–01 were (a) introductory tenancies and (b) lettings made to discharge their duties to homeless households under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996.

Sally Keeble: Information on the number of lettings made by local authorities to discharge their duties to homeless households under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 is not available centrally.
	The table gives the available information on
	(a) the proportion of local authority non-secure lettings that were introductory tenancies; and
	(b) the proportion of non-secure lettings to homeless households in priority need. The latter will include lettings that are made to discharge the local authorities duties to homeless households under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 and may include some lettings that are introductory tenancies (that would end the section 193 duty).
	
		Introductory tenancies as a percentage of local authority non-secure lettings and percentage of all non-secure lettings given to homeless households in priority need -- Percentage
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 North East
			 Introductory tenancies 84 92 93 
			 Homeless households 19 12 14 
			 
			 North West
			 Introductory tenancies 95 97 98 
			 Homeless households 13 12 14 
			 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber
			 Introductory tenancies 68 68 64 
			 Homeless households 30 29 34 
			 
			 East Midlands
			 Introductory tenancies 36 73 77 
			 Homeless households 68 29 22 
			 
			 West Midlands
			 Introductory tenancies 60 87 92 
			 Homeless households 33 16 25 
			 
			 East of England
			 Introductory tenancies 20 26 42 
			 Homeless households 80 80 60 
			 
			 London
			 Introductory tenancies 29 51 56 
			 Homeless households 75 59 68 
			 
			 South East
			 Introductory tenancies 12 25 40 
			 Homeless households 93 81 67 
			 
			 South West
			 Introductory tenancies 27 67 69 
			 Homeless households 78 46 47 
			 
			 England
			 Introductory tenancies 63 77 81 
			 Homeless households 40 29 30 
		
	
	Note:
	Homeless households are households in priority need for whom a statutory duty has been accepted by a local authority under homelessness provisions of Housing Acts. Lettings to these households have been expressed as a percentage of lettings to "new" tenants i.e. excluding transfers and exchanges between existing tenants of social landlords.
	Source:
	DTLR Housing Investment Programme returns (annual)

Detling Beacon

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if there has been an increase in (a) air traffic using and (b) night flights in the corridor five miles either side of Detling Beacon in Kent since 11 September.

David Jamieson: We are not aware of any increase in either air traffic users or night flights in the corridor five miles either side of the Detling Beacon since 11 September.

Housing Management

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will announce his decisions on the first round of local authorities' bids for additional resources to establish arm's-length housing management companies to improve their housing standards.

Stephen Byers: We have decided that conditional allocations should be made to the following local authorities sufficient to support capital investment through arm's-length companies on housing improvements in 2002–03 and 2003–04 up to the sums indicated:
	
		£ million 
		
			 Local authority Conditional allocation 
		
		
			 Ashfield 24.0 
			 Derby 31.1 
			 Hounslow 35.0 
			 Kirklees 62.5 
			 Rochdale 24.2 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 44.5 
			 Westminster 20.3 
			 Wigan 58.3 
		
	
	If confirmed, these allocations should ensure that the housing stock of most of the authorities concerned meets the Government's decent homes standard by 2006.
	Final allocations will depend on services delivered by the arm's-length company achieving an excellent rating from the Housing Inspectorate. Exceptionally, for round one only, we are prepared to allocate 50 per cent. of conditional allocations where companies are assessed as good and likely to improve. Authorities will also require the Secretary of State's approval under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985, the granting of which will be subject to the criteria set out in my Department's Guidance last April, including criteria on the responsibilities, constitution and staffing of the arm's-length companies.
	We have been unable to accept the bid from Kensington and Chelsea because it did not fully separate strategic and operational responsibilities between the council and the proposed company as required by the arm's-length principle.
	Authorities to which we have been unable to make conditional allocations in round one are invited to consider applying again. The closing date for applications in round two is the end of February 2002.

Housing Stock (Radon Emissions)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many discretionary grants have been awarded for remedial work to reduce the risk from radon emissions in (a) Devon and (b) England and Wales since 1996; and what has been the total cost.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 27 November 2001
	The Government have made available to all local housing authorities in England and Wales a single capital pot of £705 million this year for housing capital expenditure purposes. Any discretionary grant given by an authority for radon remedial work will be from this source. We do not have reliable centrally collected figures on the number of such discretionary grants for this or earlier years.

Rural Public Transport

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 423W, on rural public transport, if he will list (a) the local authorities that have received local transport capital funding, (b) the organisations that received central Government funding from the Rural Bus Challenge and (c) the organisations that received support from the Rail Passenger Partnership in 2001–02.

Sally Keeble: All local highway authorities in England (outside London) are allocated funding annually for local transport capital investment through the Local Transport Plan process. The allocation of the £1.36 billion capital funding made available for local transport in 2001–02 was announced in December 2000.
	The following 34 English local authorities have received funding to date in 2001–02 from the Rural Bus Challenge Fund:
	Bedfordshire
	Cumbria
	Devon
	Dorset
	East Riding
	East Sussex
	Essex
	Hampshire
	Herefordshire
	Hertfordshire
	Kent
	Lancashire
	Leicestershire
	Milton Keynes
	Norfolk
	North Lincolnshire
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Northumberland
	Nottinghamshire
	Plymouth
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Shropshire
	South Yorkshire
	Staffordshire
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Suffolk
	Thurrock
	Torbay
	Tyne and Wear
	Warwickshire
	West Yorkshire
	Wiltshire
	Worcestershire.
	The Rail Passenger Partnership scheme funds partnerships that may consist of local authorities, passenger transport executives, train operators or public transport consortia. To date, for 2001–02, funding for the following 21 partnership schemes have been approved by the Strategy Rail Authority:
	Vale of Glamorgan Rail Services
	Anglia Service Improvement Package
	Brentford Station Improvements
	Taff Corridor Rolling Stock
	Thornaby Station Facilities
	Additional Class 333 trailer vehicles
	Clitheroe and Blackburn Rail Services
	Carmarthen-Milford-Haven Services
	Swanage Rail Services
	Haverfordwest Station Improvements
	Burnham-on-Crouch Station Refurbishment
	Heart of Wales Rail Services
	Hexham-Carlisle Passenger Information
	Waterbeach Station Facilities
	Redruth Station Refurbishment
	Tamar Valley (Winter Sunday Service)
	Tees Valley Cycle Spaces
	Liskeard Station Refurbishment
	Southminster Branch Line
	FGE Cycle Spaces
	Traintaxi—national scheme.

Affordable Housing

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) number and (b) proportion of affordable housing units (i) have been built since March 2001 and (ii) will be built by March 2002.

Sally Keeble: The number of dwellings built by registered social landlords and local authorities in England in the six months from April 2001 to September 2001 is 7,300. This figure is 11 per cent. of all dwellings built in the period. Figures on the number of dwellings built by tenure are published monthly in the Housebuilding Statistical Release. The next release, giving figures for October 2001, will be published on 6 December. Information on how many dwellings will be built by March 2002 is not available.

Small Business (Rate Relief)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps she has taken to introduce legislation to provide rate relief for small businesses on former agricultural sites.

Alan Whitehead: Provisions for a five year 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief scheme for new small businesses on what had previously been agricultural premises are contained in the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001. The Act covers England and Wales. The Act was commenced in England on 15 August. It has not yet been commenced in Wales, which is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Green Belt Planning Applications

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of planning applications approved in the green belt for (a) residential and (b) commercial properties for each region of England.

Sally Keeble: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Council Tax Benefit

Paul Daisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will abolish the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme before the 2002–03 settlement.

Alan Whitehead: An announcement on whether the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme will be operated in 2002–03 will be made as part of the statement on the provisional local government finance settlement, which will be made on Tuesday 4 December, subject to the progress of Parliamentary business.

Car Safety

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve the safety of cars with regard to pedestrians.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan (Mr. Turner) on 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 505W.

Planning Applications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications were awaiting a decision by him on (a) the most recent date, (b) 31 December 2000, (c) 31 December 1999, (d) 31 December 1998 and (e) 31 December 1997.

Sally Keeble: Information available is in the following form.
	
		
			  Date Numbers of called-in planning applications not decided(5) 
		
		
			 31 March 1998 57 
			 31 March 1999 19 
			 31 March 2000 60 
			 31 March 2001 28 
		
	
	(5) These figures are the difference between the number of applications called-in in the year ending 31 March and the number cases decided in that year.

Regional Assemblies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his timetable is for elected regional assemblies in England.

Alan Whitehead: As the Deputy Prime Minister stated in the summer, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on regional governance. This will set out our plans for taking forward the manifesto commitment on elected regional government in England and indicate a timetable for setting up the first elected assemblies.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish his (a) proposals and (b) timetable for road safety improvements for pedestrians at the Boundstone College crossing on the A27 at Sompting in West Sussex.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Waltham to Tim Loughton, dated 29 November 2001
	The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the proposal and timetable for road safety improvements at the Boundstone College crossing on the A27 at Sompting.
	A Public Consultation on four options for a grade separated pedestrian facility took place at Boundstone Community College in June 1999. The results were published in July 2000, indicating that the preferred option was a footbridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists.
	The bridge is being designed in detail and we expect to publish details of the proposals next Summer. Progress thereafter will depend on the reaction to those proposals. Subject to that, construction could commence in 2003/04.
	If you would like further details the Project Manager, Ing Fischer, at our Dorking office would be pleased to help you. His telephone number is 01306 878362.

Registered Vehicle Keepers (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many registered vehicle keepers there are in the Buckingham constituency.

David Jamieson: pursuant to his reply, 23 November 2001, c. 499W
	The number of currently licensed vehicles registered to keepers in the Buckingham constituency at December 2000 was 53,316.

Traffic Congestion

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his projections are for (a) traffic congestion, (b) the number of vehicles on the roads in the UK and (c) the number of car passenger and bus passenger miles travelled by (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020.

David Jamieson: (a) "Transport 2010—The 10 Year Plan" forecasts that, as a result of the Plan, congestion in England will be some 6 per cent. lower in 2010 than in 2000. No forecasts have yet been made for 2005 or 2020.
	(b) The Table shows the latest forecasts of the number of cars and light vans available to households for private use in Great Britain:
	
		
			 Year Cars in GB 
		
		
			 2000 25,127,000 
			 2005 27,249,000 
			 2010 29,480,000 
			 2020 33,365,000 
		
	
	Source:
	TEMPRO (Tripend Model Program) Version 4.1
	DTLR does not make forecasts of the total number of heavy goods vehicles or buses.
	(c) DTLR has not made forecasts of car or bus passenger miles.

English Partnerships

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will review the role of English Partnerships in relation to the former new towns;
	(2)  if he will return the assets in new towns held by English Partnerships to local authorities;
	(3)  if he will ensure that regeneration of former new towns is assisted by reinvestment of assets realised by English Partnerships locally and without clawback.

Sally Keeble: A review of all English Partnerships' activities is now under way. It is, of course, considering a wide range of issues, including EP's role in the former new towns and the future ownership of land there.
	I expect the first part of the review to be completed by about Christmas, with a second part, looking in more detail at the implementation of the recommendations, ready by Easter 2002.

River Thames

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on the recommendations made by Lord Justice Clarke to increase safety on the River Thames.

David Jamieson: I have today placed in the Libraries of the House an updated summary of the action taken on each of Lord Justice Clarke's 74 recommendations.

Park Homes Working Party

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress he has made on his consideration of the report of the Park Homes Working Party.

Sally Keeble: I am pleased to announce today the publication of the Government's response to the report of the Park Homes Working Party, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The response gives a detailed response to each of the Working Party's recommendations and indicates how we intend to take them forward. It also includes a summary of the responses received to our consultation on the Working Party's report last year. The response indicates our commitment to taking forward the agenda for reform in this area, with the aim of ensuring a fair balance of interests between the rights and responsibilities of residents and site owners of park homes.

Local Government Funding (Buckinghamshire)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the allocation of central Government funds to (a) Wycombe district council and (b) Buckinghamshire county council in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: pursuant to his reply, 19 November 2001, c. 40W
	The general grants (Revenue Support Grant, National Non Domestic Rates and damping grants) and ring-fenced grants for Buckinghamshire for 1989–99 was £211.229 million.

Terrorism

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what have been the estimated costs of (a) emergency planning and (b) other operations undertaken by local authorities in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks; if additional costs will be supported by central Government; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 9 November 2001
	Central Government have not required local authorities to do any additional emergency planning work since 11 September, but immediately reminded them that they should ensure that their emergency arrangements, including contact details, are up to date. No information is held centrally on 'other operations' which may have been undertaken by local authorities following 11 September attacks.
	Subsequently, in October a "Response to the Deliberate Release of Chemicals and Biological Agents—Guidance for Local Authorities" was issued. As with any guidance issued, it inevitably requires local authorities to review their emergency arrangements, and probably revise some aspects of their plans, but this does not attract significant additional costs.

Manchester Airport

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions the Government have had with FLS Aerospace about the future of their operation at Manchester Airport.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not had any discussions with FLS Aerospace about the future of their operation at Manchester Airport.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Criminal Justice Review

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the period of consultation on the criminal justice review.

Des Browne: In the light of representations made by the political parties and those involved in delivering criminal justice services, I have decided to extend the period of consultation on the Government's response to the criminal justice review by a further four weeks to 7 January 2002.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was consulted before the proposed badges for the Police Service of Northern Ireland were designed; and at what cost.

Jane Kennedy: No one was consulted before the designs were first commissioned. The aggregate costs for the sample emblem designs were £41,329.45 (inclusive of VAT). This figure includes research, presentation materials and colour photocopying.

Decommissioning

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the next event in the decommissioning process to take place.

Jane Kennedy: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported on 23 October that it had witnessed a quantity of IRA arms being put beyond use according to the terms of the decommissioning schemes and regulations. However, in the interest of furthering the process of putting all arms beyond use, the commission declined to provide further details including on the timing of further events.
	The commission's mandate under the terms of the Good Friday agreement is to facilitate the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms. To that end, it reported that it is continuing contact with the IRA representative. The Government have every confidence in General de Chastelain and his colleagues and we should all respect their wishes on how best to proceed to fulfil their mandate.

RUC Policing and Human Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the attendance at the RUC policing and human rights conference broken down by (a) perceived community background, (b) gender and (c) occupation; and what was the cost of (i) organising and (ii) promoting this event.

Jane Kennedy: Approximately 230 delegates attended the policing and human rights conference on each of the two days on which the event took place (1 and 2 October). Community background information was not sought from delegates, nor were records kept of gender and occupation breakdown. However, the organisations invited to attend the conference are as listed.
	Age Concern
	Alliance Party
	Amnesty International
	Amsterdam Police
	An Garda Síochána
	Asylum Seekers
	Bar Council of Northern Ireland
	Belfast Islamic Society
	Bramshill Police College
	British Deaf Association
	British Irish Rights Watch
	British Telecom
	Catholic Church
	Chinese Welfare Association
	Church of Ireland
	Committee on the Administration of Justice
	Community Development Centre
	Community Safety Centre
	Council of Europe
	Danish Centre for Human Rights
	Danish National Police Academy
	Deaf Senior Citizens Northern Ireland
	Democratic Unionist Party
	Director of Public Prosecutions
	Disability Action
	Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
	Evangelical Alliance
	Finnish Police
	Gendarmerie Nationale (France)
	Greater Belfast Community Network
	Greater East Belfast Partnership
	Greater Shankill Alternatives
	Guide Dogs Association
	Home Office
	Human Rights Commission, Republic of Ireland
	Independent Commission on Policing
	Indian Community Centre
	Inner East Youth Project
	International Red Cross
	Law Society of Northern Ireland
	Malta Police
	Mediation Network
	Men's Advisory Project
	Methodist Church
	Metropolitan Police
	Muti-cultural Resources Centre
	National Police Academy (Norway)
	Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders
	Northern Ireland Association for Community Restorative Justice
	Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
	Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Activity
	Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association
	Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
	Northern Ireland Office
	Northern Ireland Women's Aid
	Northern Ireland Youth Centre
	Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers
	Oversight Commissioner's office
	Parades Commission for Northern Ireland
	Police Authority for Northern Ireland
	Police Federation for Northern Ireland
	Police Ombudsman's Office
	Presbyterian Church
	Progressive Unionist Party
	Queen's University Belfast
	Rainbow Project
	Rape Crisis Centre
	Royal National Institute for the Blind
	Royal National Institute for Deaf People
	RUC
	School of Police (Catalonia)
	Short Strand Community Forum
	Sinn Feín
	Social and Democratic Labour Party
	Tenants Action Group (Ballymena)
	Tenants Action Group (Belfast)
	The Blind Centre for Northern Ireland
	Travellers Movement Northern Ireland
	Ulster Unionist Party
	United Kingdom Unionist Party
	University of Essex
	University of Ulster
	Victim Support Northern Ireland
	Women's Coalition Party.
	In addition, community representatives from 97 per cent. of district command areas also attended.
	The total cost of the conference was £57,880.

Police Informants

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the police in Northern Ireland paid to informers in the last year for which figures are available; how many informers received payments; and what the average payment made was.

Jane Kennedy: The police service of Northern Ireland does not comment on matters relating to the number of covert human intelligence sources as defined under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. However, I can say that a total of £176,580 was paid out for information received during the period 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2001.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Regulation

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the cost to businesses of regulations introduced since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: All regulatory proposals likely to have a significant cost to business require a Regulatory Impact Assessment. Prior to the introduction of the Regulatory Impact Assessment process in 1998, Cost Compliance Assessments were used. These assessments are published by Departments and are placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regulation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regulatory measures the Government (a) introduced and (b) abolished in the last year.

Christopher Leslie: During 2000, 3,487 pieces of primary and secondary legislation were introduced. Over 98 per cent. of the total relates to Statutory Instruments (SIs), the vast majority of which had only a local or temporary effect, such as routine air traffic and road closure orders. A better measure of the regulatory burden is the number of regulatory impact assessments produced by Departments for proposals imposing significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. Last year, less than 5 per cent. of the total imposed significant costs.
	An estimate of the total number of regulatory measures abolished in the last year could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government are determined to minimise the burden of regulation on business and others. The Regulatory Reform Act 2001 now provides a powerful tool for reforming over-burdensome, over-complex and outdated primary legislation. The Prime Minister has asked all Departments to identify further areas of legislation that might be reformed under the Act and other procedures.

Freedom of Information Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date his Department established a working group of officials to prepare his Department for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and on what dates this committee has met since it was set up.

Christopher Leslie: An Open Government Unit was established in the Cabinet Office early in 2000, with responsibility for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other government openness initiatives within the Cabinet Office. the Unit will ensure that the Cabinet Office complies with the implementation plans set out in the paper placed in the Library of the House on 13 November 2001 by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), as stated in her answer on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 692W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) direct and (b) indirect involvement the Government have had in the supply of Russian weapons to (i) the Northern Alliance, (ii) its component factions and (iii) other non-state actors operating in and around Afghanistan since 11 September.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are involved in military operations in self-defence against international terrorists within Afghanistan. Information and plans about these operations are extremely sensitive, and it would not be in the public interest for them to be disclosed. In my opinion, exemptions 1(a) and (b) (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply here.

General Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 19 and 20 November; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the UK at the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels on 19 November.
	The GAC adopted the sixteen 'A' Points listed in document number 14061/01. It also noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament and in its part-session of 22–25 October 2001 in its part-session in Strasbourg listed in document number 12865/01. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of both houses.
	World Trade Organisation
	Following a presentation by the Commission, the Council welcomed the decision, taken at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Doha on 9–14 November, to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations.
	Work in other Council Formations
	The Presidency drew attention to the Secretariat's report of the main issues being discussed by other sectoral meetings of the Council of Ministers.
	Enlargement
	The Commission presented its Enlargement Strategy Paper and the Regular Progress Reports on the thirteen candidates. The GAC will discuss these further at its next session on 10 December in preparation for the Laeken European Council.
	Future of EU
	The GAC discussed, on the basis of a Presidency non-paper, preparations for a Declaration to be made at the Laeken European Council. The Presidency concluded that the Declaration would comprise three sections:
	(i) a political analysis of the state of the Union, including the perceptions and expectations of public opinion;
	(ii) themes for the debate on future of Europe, based on the Nice agenda, and comprising:
	—European Union objectives and policies
	—Demarcation of powers between the Union and its member states
	—Democratic legitimacy
	—the Union's capability to decide and conduct its policies
	—Simplification and general presentation of the European project
	(iii) the Council Decision to convoke the Convention.
	The Presidency agreed to present its draft declaration to member states, taking account of their contributions, before the Presidency's pre-Laeken tour of EU capitals. The themes identified in the Presidency's draft declaration would be presented in the form of open questions.
	The Presidency identified some supplementary themes, which would be points of reference for the Laeken Declaration:
	—the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;
	—the legitimacy of the European Parliament, the links between it and the EU's national Parliaments and the increased role of the latter;
	—preserving the acquis communautaire;
	—the enhanced external dimension of the Union;
	—the effectiveness of the Union's decision-making process. Middle East Peace Process
	Ministers reviewed the situation in the Middle East in the light of contracts made during:
	—the EuroMed Ministerial Conference in Brussels on 5 November;
	—the ministerial week of 9–16 November at the UN General Assembly; and
	the tour of the region by Guy Verhofstadt, Romano Prodi and Javier Solana.
	Ministers also completed preparations for the Second meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council, held on 20 November in Brussels, for which the GAC adopted an EU Declaration.
	Afghanistan
	The GAC adopted Conclusions. These welcomed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1378 and reiterated the EU's support for the efforts of the UN Special Representative, in particular the objective to establish rapidly a transitional administration in Afghanistan. The GAC recalled that such efforts were intended to install a legitimate, broad-based, multi-ethnic government committed to establishing human rights. The EU would continue to participate in seeking a political solution. The Union called on the Northern Alliance to exercise restraint and to facilitate the rapid establishment of a new administration which enjoyed both national and international support. Humanitarian aid remained an absolute priority and would be subject to closer co-ordination between member states, the Commission, specialist humanitarian agencies, the Afghanistan Support Group and non-governmental organisations.
	While recognising the primary role of the Afghan people in determining their future, the GAC called on the UN and international financial institutions to devise a plan for the economic, social and institutional reconstruction of Afghanistan, which would help co-ordinate the efforts of the international community. The EU intended to participate actively in the meeting in Washington on 20 November.
	The GAC decided it would appoint a Special Representative of Afghanistan, to work under the authority of the High Representative.
	Joint meeting with defence ministers: declaration on military capabilities
	In a joint meeting with defence ministers, the GAC issued a Declaration which outlined an action plan to take forward work to meet the Helsinki headline goal (the ability, by 2003, for member states to be able to deploy up to 60,000 personnel within 60 days for military crisis management operations).
	Joint meeting with interior ministers: declaration on police capabilities
	In a joint meeting with interior ministers the GAC adopted a Police Conference Declaration stating that the policing targets set by the Feira European Council had been met. The target was for 5,000 police officers to be available for EU and other international policing missions by 2003, including 1,000 for rapid deployment.
	EU internal action following the terrorist attacks in the USA
	The GAC reviewed the work conducted to date and envisaged in implementing the action plan/road map on the fight against terrorism. The Council concluded that work would continue, notably regarding: EU/third country relations, non-proliferation, disarmament, arms exports and biological and chemical terrorism. The GAC stressed that implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 remained a priority. The GAC asked COREPER to examine a French proposal to create an international forum on the financing of terrorism.
	Western Balkans
	The GAC adopted conclusions which:
	(i) urged the Serbian and Montenegrin authorities to agree quickly on constitutional arrangements, by means of a democratic and construction dialogue, which would provide for a democratic Montenegro in a democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The GAC asked The High Representative (HR) to visit Belgrade and Podgorica to reaffirm the EU's position, promote further dialogue and report back to the next GAC on 10 December. The Council affirmed that any referendum that resulted from the current process should be conducted democratically and in accordance with the Montenegrin Constitution;
	(ii) welcomed the peaceful and orderly legislative elections in Kosovo, which were an important step towards fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The newly elected Kosovars should be encouraged to carry out their functions in strict compliance with the constitutional framework for provisional self-government. The GAC also called on them to co-operate fully with UNMIK and with the Belgrade authorities, in accordance with the joint document signed on 5 November 2001;
	(iii) welcomed the adoption of the constitutional provisions of the Macedonia Framework Agreement of 13 August and the announcement of the new constitution by the Macedonian Parliament on 15 November. It also urged all parties to apply the Framework Agreement in its entirety without delay and to observe the cease-fire. The EU was willing to play its full part in the context of the donors' meeting, once the conditions were met.
	(iv) agreed that EU would continue to play a leading role in the Stability Pact. The Pact's activities ought to be based on the principles of concentration/refocusing and regional appropriation. The GAC stressed the importance of enhancing the complementarity between the Pact and the Stabilisation and Association Process. The GAC emphasised that the impetus for regional co-operation must come from the region itself.
	Africa: Great Lakes and Etritrea
	The GAC discussed the Ministerial troika mission to the Great Lakes Region to take place on 20–25 November. The GAC confirmed its support for the Lusaka process (concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)) and for the holding of the Congolese dialogue under the Lusaka Agreement. It also welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1376 and endorsed the requests made to States which had still begun to withdraw their forces from the DRC in accordance with Resolution 1304.
	The GAC also welcomed the donor information conference for the DRC to be held in Brussels on 20 December on the initiative of the World bank, further to the donor information conference held in Paris in July. It welcomed the meeting to be held in Brussels on 21 December, which would give impetus to the establishment of a regional trust fund for DDRRR (Disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, resettlement and relocation).
	The GAC welcomed the swearing in of a transitional government in Burundi on 1 November (in line with the Arusha process). The Council expressed its deep concern about the recent upsurge of violence and strongly condemned the attacks on the health centres and the kidnapping of schoolchildren by armed groups. The GAC recalled that it had adopted a Joint Action and released EUR 9.5 million to support the deployment of a special protection unit, provisionally composed of a South African battalion, and called again on the international community to contribute to that unit's funding. The GAC welcomed the Commission's signing of the National Indicative Programme on EU aid for Burundi.
	The GAC welcomed the agreement between Presidents Museveni and Kagame of Rwanda and Uganda brokered by the United Kingdom, which aimed to reduce the sources of tension between the two countries and thus contribute to the region's stability. The Council also adopted an updated common position on Rwanda, further to that of September 2000. The Ministerial troika visit the region on 20–25 November would provide an opportunity to assess support in the States concerned for organising a Great Lakes Conference, under the aegis of the United Nations and African Union, once the Lusaka and Arusha peace processes had progressed sufficiently.
	The GAC expressed deep concern at the situation in Eritrea, in particular persistent infringements of opposition rights, curbs on press freedom and the lack of information on the prominent figures who had been detained. It regretted that no solution had yet been found to the problem of the expulsion of the Italian Ambassador to Asmara, who was the representative of the European Union. It also regretted that the Eritrean Head of State, Mr. Isayas Afewerki, had not received the European Union Heads of Mission. The GAC said that talks should take place rapidly, in line with the Cotonou Agreement. These should address the EU's concerns, and set a timetable for the organisation of free and fair elections. The GAC noted that the relevant Council Bodies were examining the possible practical implications for EU aid if the current situation were to continue. Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)
	The GAC agreed a new Decision on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community for the period 2001–07. This will result in increased EU aid for the UK's overseas territories.
	Presidency meetings with EU institutions' Trade Unions
	The Presidency briefed on its recent meetings with the EU Trade Unions. The meetings had covered the issues the Unions wanted the GAC to take into consideration when it addressed the Commission's personnel policy reform programme next year.
	Voting Record
	No formal votes were taken on the points under discussion at the GAC.

Espionage

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the imprisonment of 12 UK citizens in Greece on alleged espionage charges.

Ben Bradshaw: Twelve British and two Dutch nationals were arrested on 8 November in Kalamata airbase after allegedly taking photographs at the base. Such photography is illegal in Greece. The group were charged with espionage on 12 November. They appeared before an Investigating Magistrate on 27 November when further espionage charges were laid.
	Following the hearing on 27 November, the group was remanded in custody. They will now appear in front of a three strong panel of judges in Kalamata. We hope this will take place as quickly as possible. This hearing will not be a trial as such but is a review mechanism within the Greek justice system.
	The British plane spotters and their families were naturally disappointed that the case did not conclude on 27 November. So were we. We are talking to the Greek authorities to request that all avenues are pursued to ensure that the review takes place very quickly. Our objective remains to ensure proper conditions for the detainees and a speedy and transparent judicial process.

Weapons

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries his Department has assessed as seeking to make (a) nuclear, (b) biological and (c) chemical weapons.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not Government policy to comment on specific intelligence matters or assessment.

Iraq and Iran

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether (a) Iraq and (b) Iran have covertly produced biological weapons.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not Government policy to comment on specific intelligence assessments. However, with reference to Iraq, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 6W.

EU Treaties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the areas under the third pillar of the EU treaties to which co-decision with the European Parliament (a) applies and (b) does not apply.

Peter Hain: The third pillar, or Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, contains provisions for co-operation between member states in the fields of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. There are no areas under the third pillar to which co-decision with the European Parliament applies. However, within Title VI, under Article 39(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the Council is required to consult the European Parliament before adopting any measure referred to in Article 34(2)(b), (c) and (d). These measures are:
	framework decisions for the purpose of approximation of the laws and regulations of the member states;
	decisions for any other purpose consistent with the objectives of Title VI; and
	conventions which the Council shall recommend to member states for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
	Article 39(2) requires the Presidency and Commission regularly to inform the European Parliament of discussions in the areas covered by Title VI. Article 39(3) says that the European Parliament may ask questions of the Council or make recommendations to it, and that each year it shall hold a debate on progress made in the areas referred to in Title VI.

Entry Clearance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit the Joint Entry Clearance Unit.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend has not yet visited the Joint Entry Clearance Unit, but he does plan to visit Departments of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that he has not yet seen. As Minister responsible for entry clearance I visited the Joint Entry Clearance Unit on 12 June.

Visa Cases

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2001, Official Report, column 45W, on visa cases, when it became the practice not to disclose details of individual visa cases in a public forum; and for what reason.

Ben Bradshaw: It is a well-established general practice not to disclose the names of applicants or details of individual visa applications on confidentiality grounds. This practice is in accordance with Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and reflects the Government's obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998. I refer my hon. Friend to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 316–17W.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

Jack Straw: holding answer 27 November 2001
	Information on the outcome of statutory investigations which were concluded during 2000–01 are set out in the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Report for 2000–01, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/pca/document/para01/index/htm.
	Between 1 April 2001 and 31 October 2001, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office received 13 new statutory statements of complaint from the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The FCO responded to them all; in 11 cases the FCO met the agreed deadline set by the Ombudsman's office; while in the other two, the deadline was missed by one day.

Zimbabwe

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Zimbabwe; and what steps he will take to ensure (a) the conditions of the land reform deal negotiated at Abuja, Nigeria are honoured and (b) the criteria for Commonwealth membership are maintained.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 November 2001
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 27 November 2001, Official Report, columns 815–18.

Gibraltar

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that Gibraltarians can vote in the 2004 elections to the European Parliament.

Peter Hain: We unequivocally accept the obligation to give effect to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Matthews v. UK and we are committed to extending the European franchise in time for the 2004 elections to the European Parliament. To this end, we will be seeking legislative time in order to bring in the necessary domestic legislation. We will, of course, consult the Government of Gibraltar on the legislative and practical details.

Andorra

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has held with the joint sovereigns of Andorra in the last three years, with specific reference to the use of Andorra as a route for smuggling into the UK.

Peter Hain: The Secretary of State has not had any formal bilaterals with the French President and/or the Bishop of Urgell in the last three years. Officials have met regularly with Andorran parliamentarians and officials during the last three years to discuss issues of mutual interest.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sport England (Athletics)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what targets her Department has set Sport England for the funding of athletics; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to direct Sport England to divert the resources earmarked for the 2005 World Athletics Championships to the development of grassroots athletics; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The UK's offer to stage the World Athletics Championship in Sheffield in 2005 has not been accepted by the International Association of Athletic Federations. Sport England will therefore reallocate the lottery funds originally earmarked in principle for staging the Championships to other projects to benefit grassroots sport including athletics in particular.
	UK Athletics, Sport England and officials from my Department are co-operating to produce an agreed development plan for athletics which aims to increase the number of people involved in the sport as competitors, organisers, coaches and officials; to improve systems for identifying and developing talent; provide better facilities; and strengthen support for our top competitors. Details of the plan are under discussion and will be published in the near future.

Tourism

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to bring the level of Government grant-in-aid to the English Tourist Council into line with that to the Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland tourist boards.

Kim Howells: Government aid to the Scottish Tourist Board, the Wales Tourist Board and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board per head of the population has always been much higher than that to the English Tourism Council (ETC) over the last decade. Each administration now makes its own decisions on funding that take into account local conditions and needs and the extent to which financial support is needed to address market failure in different parts of the country.
	Direct comparisons of Government grant do not, of course, provide the whole answer. In England, the local authorities also spend over £90 million each year promoting tourism. DCMS's £1 billion expenditure on arts, museums, galleries, sport etc. also directly benefits tourism. In addition, Government funding to English tourism is set to increase from £10 million in 2001–02 to £12 million in 2002–03 and £12.5 million in 2003–04. Visitor spending in England is higher, at £222 per head of the population, than that in Scotland (£160 per head) or Wales (£92 per head) and total spending by tourists in England has grown faster in recent years.

Cunningham Review

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the recommendations of the Cunningham Review which have not been accepted by her Department.

Richard Caborn: The recommendations set out in the Elite Sports Funding Review are directed at both the Sports Councils and my Department. Implementation of many of the recommendations is already being progressed by the Sports Councils in co-operation with the national governing bodies of sport. The remaining recommendations are being carefully considered within the context of my Department's spending review.

Lottery Funding

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how indoor sports facilities will be affected in the West Midlands by the New Opportunities for School and Community Sports Lottery funds.

Richard Caborn: £61,274,000 has been provisionally allocated to local areas in the West Midlands and the large majority of this funding will be used to provide new or modernised sports facilities. The proportion of this funding used for indoor and outdoor facilities will be decided by local partnerships led by LEAs, as they develop bids that best meet local priorities and strategies.

Derek Casey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the redundancy payment to Derek Casey, former Chief Executive Officer of Sport England.

Richard Caborn: Full details of the severance package for the former Chief Executive of Sport England will be disclosed in Sport England's accounts which will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

International Association of Athletic Federations

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Ministers represented her Department at the IAAF Annual Award ceremony in Monte Carlo on 25 November.

Richard Caborn: No Minister from this Department attended this event.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Press Notices

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the press notices issued by her predecessors on each day between 10 September and 10 October 2000 on subjects which are the responsibility of her Department.

Elliot Morley: During the period from 10 September to 10 October 2000, a total of 38 press releases were issued by the MAFF press office. I have also established that the environment and rural affairs press group issued 12 press releases for this period while part of DETR.
	The press releases are in the public domain and can be found on the following websites:
	www.defra.gov.uk
	www.dtlr.gov.uk
	www.home.office.gov.uk

Departmental Press Notices

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the press notices issued by her Department on each day between 10 September and 10 October.

Elliot Morley: During the period from 10 September to 10 October 2001, a total of 45 press releases were issued by the DEFRA press office.
	Please note that this included 33 press releases from activities formerly identified as MAFF related and 12 press releases from the recently merged environment press office, now part of the DEFRA press office.
	These press releases are in the public domain and can be found on the following websites:
	www.defra.gov.uk
	www.dtlr.gov.uk
	www.home.office.gov.uk

Departmental Procurement

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's procurement policy and what plans there are for Departments to join together to (a) reduce procurement costs, (b) increase efficiency and (c) operate green procurement policies.

Elliot Morley: The Government's procurement policy is that all public procurement of goods and services is to be based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. Value for money is not the lowest price—it is defined as the optimum combination of whole life costs and quality to meet the user's requirement. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) was created to lead a wide-ranging programme to modernise procurement in central civil Government. DEFRA is supportive of and committed fully to working with the OGC in delivering this wide-ranging programme. One of the areas in which OGC is encouraging a joined-up approach is in the aggregation of requirements and wider use of existing agreements. This will make a significant contribution to (a) reducing procurement costs and (b) increased efficiency.
	With regard to (c) the joint HM Treasury/DETR (now DEFRA) note, on environmental issues in purchasing, explains how Departments can pursue their "green" strategies within the above procurement policy framework. In particular, it explains how environmental issues can be reflected in specifications.

Bio-security

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to improve national bio-security; how much money is allocated to target (a) airports and (b) containers arriving in ports in the current financial year;
	(2)  what changes have been made to increase bio- security in the UK since 2000;
	(3)  what action is planned by the Government to prevent the entry of potentially infected illegal meat into the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: All consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC. Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the directive. Among other things, this directive sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores.
	All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport. In line with Community rules, random spot checks at destination may be carried out on consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK from other EU member states.
	New arrangements have been introduced across all enforcement agencies involved to improve the sharing and analysis of information about known or suspected illegal imports. We are building up a database of details which is enabling us to target enforcement action and to make best use of available resources. Our national regulations have also been amended to assist local authorities in seizing suspected illegal imports when they are found at point of sale. The Food Standards Agency is also encouraging local authorities to ensure that checking for illegal imports is part of their routine inspection of food premises.
	Alongside this we have introduced improved publicity to ensure that travellers are aware of the restrictions on what may be imported. Posters have been placed at main airports and we have asked UK travel agents and airlines using UK airports to make information about import controls available to travellers. Recognising that it is most effective to inform travellers before they leave for their journey to the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been active via British embassies abroad, providing information directly to travellers and via travel agents and local media.
	We are keeping these measures under review and will make improvements as necessary. In addition, we are looking at a wide range of other options to ensure the rules on imports are enforced effectively and efficiently. These include, for example, the possible use of sniffer dogs and x-ray machines at ports and airports and changes to administrative structures.
	Apart from a small number of ports that import only animal products not intended for human consumption where import controls are operated by the state veterinary service, local authorities are responsible for controls at ports in their areas and the financial information requested is not held centrally.
	We are taking every opportunity to drive home the importance of observing high standards of bio-security on and around farms. We have used interviews in the national and local media and placed advertisements in the local and farming press. We have produced a video demonstrating a practical approach to bio-security. This has been made available to all livestock farmers and others in the industry, accompanied by a leaflet and letter from Jim Scudamore, the chief veterinary officer. Special bio-security arrangements have been applied within restricted infected areas and subject to stringent enforcement.
	In the Animal Health Bill currently before Parliament, we are emphasising the importance of bio-security by linking the payment of compensation on infected premises to compliance with disease control measures. In addition, recommendations on future national bio-security measures may emerge from the independent inquiries into foot and mouth established by the Government.

Growth Promoters

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the growth promoters that are permitted to be given to (a) pigs, (b) poultry and (c) other farm animals.

Elliot Morley: The following growth promoters are authorised under directive 70/524/EEC to be used as feed additives for pigs, poultry and other farm animals:
	(a) Pigs
	(i) Flavophospholipol
	(ii) Salinomycin sodium
	(iii) Avilamycin
	(b) Poultry
	Laying hens, turkeys, other poultry excluding ducks, geese, pigeons—Flavophospholipol
	Chickens for fattening, turkeys—Avilamycin
	(c) Other farm animals
	Calves, rabbits, cattle for fattening—Flavophospholipol
	Animals bred for fur, excluding rabbits—Flavophospholipol
	Cattle for fattening—Monensin Sodium.

Spanish Fishermen (Compensation)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason and how much EU compensation is being paid in this financial year to Spanish fishermen for loss of fishing opportunities in Morocco; what the UK contribution is to this compensation; and what EU compensation is to be paid to British fishermen for loss of fishing opportunities under Cod Preservation plans.

Elliot Morley: The European Council, at its meeting in Nice in December 2000, asked the Commission if it did not prove possible to conclude a future fisheries agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco to propose, keeping within the financial perspective, a specific action programme for restructuring the Community fleet which had fished within the framework of the old agreement.
	Now that negotiations between the EU and Morocco on a new agreement have failed, the proposal before the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 27 November would provide 197 million euros of new Community money, over two years, towards the restructuring of the fleets concerned, which are Spanish and Portuguese. We have made sure in negotiating that the terms of the measures are aimed at achieving real restructuring which avoids diversion of effort to Community waters.
	This measure will not increase the UK's contribution to the EU budget.
	No EU compensation has been paid to British fishermen as a result of recovery measures to protect cod stocks. I would find it difficult in principle to justify making compensation payments for a decline in stocks, particularly when the cause of the problem could relate to overfishing, or for conservation measures put in place to improve stocks and fishing opportunities in the future.
	However, in order to promote the restructuring of the UK fleet, decommissioning schemes totalling £36 million are currently in place in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sheep Brains (Testing)

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the level of testing of sheep brains for BSE and scrapie; and when she expects to publish the results of the next round of testing.

Elliot Morley: Between November 2000 and the end of September 2001, 465 sheep scrapie suspects have been tested at the VLA. 284 were found to be positive for scrapie; none have given results indicative of BSE. The Department is also strain-typing, using mouse bioassay, brains from scrapie-infected sheep collected since 1996. In about 180 cases, experiments have reached the first point at which, if BSE was clearly present, it might have become apparent. It has not done so, although the work is still on-going and experiments cannot therefore be interpreted as excluding the presence of BSE. It is likely to require several more years before the strains can be definitively identified. The outcome of all investigations, whether research or surveillance, are kept under continual review, and guidance sought from SEAC where necessary. We will continue to put all our research into the public domain at the earliest opportunity.
	In the new year, the Department will be launching an abattoir survey and a fallen stock survey to test for TSEs, including scrapie, some 23,000 sheep aged over 18 months. This is part of an EU-wide programme designed to give information on the incidence of scrapie and other TSEs in the European Union. Quantitative data in terms of numbers of animals tested, and number positive, will be reported regularly to the European Commission in accordance with our statutory obligations. This information will also be put in the public domain. Qualitative analysis, whether in terms of the prevalence of scrapie infection in the population sampled, or the nature of any scrapie identified, will under normal circumstances require completion of the survey, and possible further investigations.

Sheep/Lamb Industry

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement for the forecast level of the ewe premium for 2001;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of (a) the future of the European Union's sheepmeat regime and (b) the prospects for the United Kingdom's sheep and lamb industry; and if she will make a statement on the Council of Ministers meeting on 20 November.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission has made forecasts of the final rate of the ewe premium during the course of the year to enable advances of the premium to be paid; its most recent forecast is for a final rate of 10.779 euros. However, the final rate of the premium will not finally be determined until the average community market price for sheepmeat for the marketing year is known.
	The European Commission has proposed a number of changes to the sheepmeat regime. These include replacement of the current deficiency-type premium calculation with a fixed rate premium of 21 euro with effect from 2002. The proposals were considered by the Agriculture Council on 20 November and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 690W.

Foot and Mouth

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will grant a right for farmers to appeal against the slaughter of stock thought to be infected with foot and mouth before they are killed.

Elliot Morley: If a farmer does not agree with the decision to cull his stock, he has the right to make representations to the district veterinary manager.
	This right is not affected by the Animal Health Bill currently before Parliament.

Foot and Mouth

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make insurance against outbreaks of foot and mouth disease compulsory for livestock farmers.

Elliot Morley: The Department is continuing to study the options for insurance against the consequences of outbreaks of livestock diseases.

Late Payments

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the industrial action by her Department's civil servants has led to a backlog in processing (a) IACS payments and (b) compensation payments; and if the Government will pay interest to farmers affected by late payments.

Elliot Morley: Industrial action by PCS members has affected the Department's ability to process payments as normal, although every effort continues to be made to make payments within the appropriate time scales. It is not Government policy to pay compensation for payments which might miss payment deadlines because of industrial action.

Sheep Annual Premium

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations she has received with regard to the level of sheep annual premium for the forthcoming year;
	(2)  when she expects to announce the level of sheep annual premium for the forthcoming year.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 26 November 2001
	We have received a number of representations on the European Commission's proposal to replace the current deficiency-type premium calculation with a flat rate premium of 21 euro with effect from 2002. Under the Commission's proposals, member states would be able to pay the flat rate from 16 October 2002.
	The proposals were considered by the Agriculture Council on 20 November. No agreement was reached at that meeting and we expect that discussions will resume in the Council in December.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the parliamentary ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 November 2001
	Information on the outcome of statutory investigations which were concluded during 2000–01 are set out in the parliamentary ombudsman's annual report for 2000–01, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, or on the parliamentary ombudsman's website at
	www.ombudsman.org.uk/pca/document/par01/index.htm
	Between 8 June 2001 (the date on which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was set up) and 31 October 2001, the Department received one new statutory statement of complaint from the parliamentary ombudsman. The time taken to respond was 28 days.

Rural Affairs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was spent on (a) the England rural development programme, (b) the farm business advisory service and (c) other services for farmers in 2001–02.

Alun Michael: (a) Expenditure on the England rural development programme from 16 October 2000 to 15 October 2001 (the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund financial year) amounted to £125,931,200.00 The figure excludes state aid and modulation.
	(b) DEFRA is invoiced quarterly in arrears by the small business service for delivery of the farm business advice service. The amount invoiced at the end of September for work carried out in this financial year was £1.3 million. This figure was lower than anticipated due to the temporary suspension of the service and restricted access to farms as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. Current forecast expenditure for the whole of 2001–02, based on business link service delivery predictions, is £11.55 million.
	(c) Figures on expenditure on other services to farmers in 2001–02 are not held centrally due to the number and variety of sources of assistance available.

Rural Affairs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm businesses received regional development agency support in 2001–02, stating in each case the level of funding made available.

Alun Michael: This information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Rural Affairs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) people have been helped by the England rural development programme by category and (b) farmers have received free consultancy advice from the farm business advisory service.

Alun Michael: (a) 3,924 new land based agreements were signed under the England rural development programme (ERDP) for the scheme year 2000–01. Of these, 2,572 were agri-environment scheme agreements, and 1,352 related to afforestation and other forestry measures. Around 10,500 claims for support were paid in 2001 to upland farmers under the hill farm allowance, which is also part of the ERDP.
	Three new rural economy schemes were introduced in October 2000 under the ERDP: the rural enterprise scheme (RES), the processing and marketing grant (PMG) and the vocational training scheme (VTS). These schemes operate on a competitive basis and are designed to support rural enterprises and rural services. Up to the end of October 2001, 136 RES projects had been approved at a total grant value of some £8 million. Over the same period, 20 PMG projects and 72 VTS projects were approved, representing a further £5 million and £2 million respectively of grant expenditure.
	Foot and mouth disease had a marked effect on delivery of the ERDP, but a number of initiatives intended to minimise the impact have been or are being pursued, including extended application windows for the land based schemes.
	(b) Over the year since the farm business advice service was launched in October 2000 until the end of September 2001, 7,613 farms requested the service, 4,637 farms received an initial diagnostic visit and 2,851 farms received the full three-day service resulting in an action plan.
	Farmers throughout England directly affected by the foot and mouth outbreak were invited to apply for the enhanced five-day service at the end of August 2001. By the end of September, 1,146 farmers had registered for the enhanced service and 319 had received an initial visit.

Rural Affairs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the extent to which delivery has been achieved on (a) provision of new service standards, (b) additional sure start schemes and (c) increasing police visibility and accessibility in rural areas.

Alun Michael: (a) The rural services standard set out in the rural White Paper brings together standards and targets from a range of rural services. It is our intention to review and update this standard annually starting in 2002.
	(b) Sure start aims to support young children and their families living in disadvantaged areas so that they have improved life chances. To date the Government have announced 437 out of the 500 sure start programmes planned to be operational by April 2004. In addition to the 500 full-scale sure start programmes, £22 million has been allocated to establish 50 small sure start programmes to reach pockets of deprivation, particularly those in rural areas. The third round of pilot projects began in seven rural districts at the end of July, and it is expected that the fourth round of pilots, which will involve a further six rural districts, will commence at the end of November.
	(c) Police authorities were required to report in annual policing performance plans how they spent the extra £15 million (2000–01) and how they intended to spend the additional £30 million (2001–02) on improving policing services in rural areas. In addition chief constables are required to outline in their annual report what measures have been taken to improve visibility and accessibility in each ward and parish in their force area. These publications can be found on individual police force websites.

Rural Affairs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) funds available in the Countryside Agency grant scheme for village services launched in April and (b) proportion spent through the scheme in 2000–01.

Alun Michael: The funds allocated to each of the schemes in the Countryside Agency's vital village programme are:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Parish Plans (6)5 
			 Community Service Grant (6)15 
			 Parish Transport Grant (6)15 
		
	
	(6) Over three years
	The vital villages programme only started in 2001–02 so expenditure was zero in 2000–01.

Fisheries Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 27 November; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I represented the UK at the Fisheries Council on 27 November.
	The Council discussed the Commission's proposal to extend the multi-annual guidance programme (MAGP IV) for one year until the end of 2002, and will return to the subject at its next meeting.
	The Council reached political agreement on rules for the restructuring of the Spanish and Portuguese fleets which used to fish in Moroccan waters. Many of the vessels in these fleets have been tied up in port since December 1999, when the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement expired. The rules govern the use of the 197 million euros which have been allocated to fund, during 2002 and 2003, the destruction of vessels, conversion to non-fishing uses, export of vessels to third countries and conversion of vessels to other fishing methods. The UK and a number of other member states made it clear that they expect Spain and Portugal to ensure that vessels modernised with EU money under the measure will not fish in EU waters.
	There was a qualified majority in the Council in favour of a decision applying provisionally the renewed EU-Mauritania fisheries agreement, whose predecessor expired on 31 July 2001. The agreement provides for fishing opportunities in Mauritanian waters over five years at a cost of 86 million euros per year. Along with a number of other member states the UK, in supporting the proposal, made clear that we consider there is substantial room for improvement in the way that such agreements are negotiated and monitored: I stressed in particular the need to make sure that they provide value for money, promote environmentally sustainable fishing and are coherent with Community development policy. I made it clear that we are looking for a thorough debate, within the framework of the forthcoming review of the common fisheries policy, on the handling of such agreements.
	The Council noted the Commission's report on the monitoring of implementation of the CFP and the Commission's communication on serious infringements of the CFP rules during 2000. The Commission urged greater consistency among member states on matters such as the size of penalties.
	The Council also noted the difficulties being experienced by the Commission in reaching agreement in the Community's negotiations with Norway, Iceland, the Faroes, Greenland and Russia about fixing and allocating the total allowable catch for blue whiting in 2002. There was agreement that the Community should continue to argue for a responsible approach to exploiting this pressurised stock.
	The Council was given an indication by the Commissioner of how he intends to launch his proposals for reforming the common fisheries policy. He intends to bring this forward in the form of a number of separate legislative proposals in the course of 2002. He intends to start by launching a "road map" of the Commission's plans in the new year, once the European Parliament has delivered its opinion on the Commission's Green Paper on the CFP review. The Commission then envisages that there might be an orientation debate at the Council in April, with subsequent Councils considering different elements of the legislative proposals.
	The Commission and the Presidency both urged member states which had not yet completed their national procedures for ratifying the UN Straddling Stocks agreement to do so as soon as possible. This is required so that the EU can ratify the agreement which will now be entering into force in December.

Cattle Auctions

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when auction markets for cattle will be restored in (a) Dorset and (b) areas that have been spared infection by foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: A decision to reopen auction markets in Dorset or elsewhere in England and Wales will be made in the light of scientific and veterinary advice on progress with the eradication of FMD. It is not possible to state a precise time but it is expected to be in the early part of 2002, provided there are no further outbreaks.

Flood Defence

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each of the last 10 financial years the Government's annual expenditure on flood prevention and flood defences.

Elliot Morley: Flood defence is provided by the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards. The great majority of their expenditure is provided by Government in the form of DEFRA grant (which is used by local authorities to fund levies to the Environment Agency, special levies to internal drainage boards and to finance their own spend on flood and coastal defence). The following table sets out total Government funding of flood and coastal defence for the last 10 years:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1991–92 269.6 
			 1992–93 279.7 
			 1993–94 277.0 
			 1994–95 274.0 
			 1995–96 272.3 
			 1996–97 309.7 
			 1997–98 312.4 
			 1998–99 315.9 
			 1999–2000 326.3 
			 2000–01 (7)328.5 
		
	
	(7) Information updated since response to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 9 November 2001, Official Report, column 451W.
	Total expenditure is budgeted to increase to some £377 million in the current financial year and forecast to increase further to £393 million in 2002–03 and £414 million in 2003–04.

Flood Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to announce the results of her review into the financial and institutional arrangements governing flood defence matters; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The conclusions of the review of flood and coastal defence funding arrangements will be published soon and will coincide with the initiation of a public consultation on recommendations in the report.

Countryside Visits

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 425W, on countryside visits, how many people visited the countryside in (a) 1996 and (b) 1998.

Alun Michael: The United Kingdom leisure day visits survey shows that in 1996 there were 1,302 million day visits and in 1998 there were 1,253 million day visits to the countryside. Figures are not available for the number of different people who visited the countryside.

Ash Moor, Petrockstowe

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what microbiological studies have been carried out in relation to Ash Moor Petrockstowe; and if she will place the studies in the Library.

Elliot Morley: There is no requirement to include microbiological studies within an environmental impact assessment and none were carried out at Ash Moor.

Ash Moor, Petrockstowe

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the grid references are of the site on which a geological survey was carried out in relation to Ash Moor Petrockstowe and if she will place the survey in the Library.

Elliot Morley: The draft environmental impact assessment on the Ash Moor mass burial site includes the appropriate information on the hydrology, geology and hydrogeology of the site. The information will be included in the final published text.

Ash Moor, Petrockstowe

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental impact assessment in relation to Ash Moor Petrockstowe; and if she will revoke the decision to allow the site to be brought into use for the disposal of animal carcases.

Elliot Morley: The draft environmental impact assessment on the Ash Moor mass burial site is currently the subject of consultation with interested bodies. The final text will be published in the usual way. There are no current plans to use the Ash Moor site for the disposal of animal carcases.

Market Towns

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the level of funds available for the regeneration programme for the next three years, (b) the number of market towns that have received support in 2001–02 and (c) the number of market towns, as defined by the Government.

Alun Michael: From next April regional development agencies will make their forward spending plans within single budgets covering all their activities, rather than in several separate programme budgets. Rural regeneration budgets will no longer be separately identified within regional development agency total budgets. However regional development agencies must identify key planned rural outputs, and will in due course be able to report in arrears on actual expenditure in rural areas.

Rate Relief (Village Businesses)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce legislative proposals to extend the mandatory rate relief scheme for village shops to (a) small food shops, (b) pubs and (c) petrol filling stations.

Alun Michael: The village shop rate relief scheme was extended to include pubs and petrol stations in April 2001. Under the scheme, the sole village pub or petrol station with a rateable value of £9,000 or less in a qualifying settlement, is eligible to receive 50 per cent. rate relief from central Government. Local authorities have the power to top the relief up to 100 per cent.
	In August, a rate relief scheme for farm diversification and village food shops was introduced. Under the scheme, mandatory 50 per cent. rate relief will be provided to all food shops with a rateable value below £6,000 in designated villages of less than 3,000 population. Councils still have the discretion to give up to 100 per cent. relief to any business in a settlement which is eligible for the rate relief scheme with a rateable value below £12,000.

Town and Parish Councils

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which town and parish councils have received financial assistance for (a) training and (b) preparation of local plans in 2001–02, stating in each case the level of funding made available.

Alun Michael: (a) The Countryside Agency, in consultation with the National Association of Local Councils, is still in the process of working up a national training strategy for town and parish councils. No parish or town council has therefore received funding for training from the Countryside Agency.
	(b) The parish plans grant scheme was launched in April this year. The target is to have 1,000 communities producing town or parish plans by 2004.
	The maximum level of grant available is £5,000 to cover 75 per cent. of the costs of producing the plan. To date, 243 parish and town councils have registered an interest to produce a plan and 72 have been made a formal offer of grant. Grant is paid out against actual expenditure but applicants can claim an "up front payment" of 25 per cent. of their grant application to help them get started.

Food and Farming Policy

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Policy Commission on Food and Farming to report.

Margaret Beckett: The independent Policy Commission was tasked in the summer with reporting to the Government by the end of this year. The commission is making good progress and will complete the bulk of its work in that timetable, but it will now deliver its final report by the end of January 2002.

Sheep Brain Experiment

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the reports of audits she has commissioned into the sheep brain pool experiment at the Institute for Animal Health.

Margaret Beckett: I have now received the reports of the two independent auditors, the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) and Risk Solutions. I intend to publish them, along with a response from the Institute for Animal Health to the issues raised in the audits, at 9.30 am tomorrow (30 November) and will make the documents available to hon. Members through the Vote Office and Libraries.

National Forest (East Midlands)

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will report on the National Forest Company's progress in creating the National Forest in the east midlands.

Elliot Morley: I have arranged for copies of the National Forest Company's annual report and its accounts for 2000–01 to be placed in the House Libraries.

Aggregates Levy

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates she has made of the increase in the use of recycled aggregate as a consequence of the introduction of the aggregates levy.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 27 November 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The increase in the use of recycled aggregates as a consequence of the introduction of the aggregates levy cannot be predicted with certainty. The size of any change will depend on how the producers and consumers of aggregate respond to the levy and to consequent changes in prices, in both the short and longer term. The regulatory impact assessment prepared in 2000 to accompany the proposal for the levy noted that, using the short run elasticities produced by ECOTEC for the Quarry Products Association in 1998, a best estimate of the impact of a £1.60 levy on the demand for primary aggregates would be a reduction of around 10 per cent. of production or, currently, about 24 million tonnes per year. Alternative materials, including recycled aggregate, would replace some of this reduced production, and less aggregate would be required as a result of increased efficiency and a reduction in waste of all aggregates in construction and manufacturing processes. At any level of production, the levy should encourage a shift away from virgin aggregate towards alternative materials such as recycled aggregate.

Salmon Farming

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of salmon farming on the environment; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I have been asked to reply.
	Responsibility for this matter rests with the Scottish Executive. I understand however that the key issues of concern have been identified and a range of actions designed to tackle them have been embarked upon.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Court of Appeal

Andrew Miller: To ask the Solicitor-General how many references there have been to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 since 1972.

Harriet Harman: By virtue of section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972, the Attorney-General may seek the opinion of the Court of Appeal on a point of law arising out of any trial on indictment where there has been an acquittal. Since 1972, there have been at least 56 Attorney-General's references where the Court of Appeal has given its opinion on a point of law. The figures for the last few years are as shown.
	1998: 2
	1999: 2
	2000: 5
	2001: 2.

HEALTH

Health Care Rationing

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the extent of health care rationing.

John Hutton: Patients continue to be assessed on the basis of clinical need, and it has been repeatedly made clear that those patients in clearest need will be treated as a matter of priority, regardless of any other factors. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Committee for Health Improvement have been set up to ensure a faster more uniform uptake of treatments which work for the patient. In addition to this the NHS Plan sets out a commitment that by 2003, following a review of the existing weighted capitation formula used to distribute national health service funding, reducing inequalities will be a key criterion for allocating NHS resources to different parts of the country.

Disaster Planning (Wyre Forest)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans have been made for the reception of casualties if a major disaster occurs in Wyre Forest.

John Hutton: We are determined to ensure that the national health service is in as strong a position as possible to handle major incidents and we have recently asked senior NHS doctors and managers to review their arrangements for major incidents.
	In line with Government guidance, Worcestershire has a comprehensive major incident plan in place for a range of possible scenarios. The plan has been developed in collaboration with health services across Worcestershire and involving all the emergency services and the local authority emergency planning departments.
	Past experiences of major disasters in this country and abroad suggest that hospitals and minor injury centres both within Worcestershire and outside the district could be deployed depending on the scale of the disaster and the nature of injuries sustained. The Government's recent guidance to health authorities on major incident planning procedures is designed to heighten awareness as a precautionary measure and forms part of the Department's on-going work on medical countermeasures for biological incidents.

Major Trauma Casualties (Worcestershire)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many major trauma casualties could be received and treated simultaneously at hospitals in Worcestershire and neighbouring areas.

John Hutton: The ability of hospitals to respond to major trauma is dependent on a number of factors. Within each hospital the ability to receive such casualties will depend on the number of resuscitation bays and intensive care units (ICU) beds available.
	Only hospitals that have adequate facilities such as resuscitation, theatres, ITU and clinical expertise should receive major trauma. Currently in Worcestershire there are:
	spaces for up to 12 patients and two resuscitation bays at the Alexandra Hospital,
	spaces for up to seven patients and three resuscitation bays at Worcester Royal Infirmary.
	There is the potential for spaces for up to 20 patients and four resuscitation bays in the new hospital in Worcester, due to open in April next year.
	Worcestershire's major incident plan has escalation procedures to involve other sectors of the health and social services locally, and in surrounding areas. The Hereford and Worcestershire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust would work in collaboration with local and surrounding acute hospitals and neighbouring ambulance trusts to ensure that patients are taken to the nearest appropriate facility.

Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) registered and (b) formerly registered nurses have taken up a full or part-time contract with the NHS after a break in their nursing career in each of the last three years for which records are available.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors who have returned to practice in the national health service
		
			 Year or part year Part time Full time 
		
		
			 1 February 1999 to 31 January 2000 1,636 1,156 
			 1 February 2000 to 31 January 2001 2,579 1,518 
			 1 February 2001 to 31 October 2001 1,496 1,286 
		
	
	Note:
	Data collected by the Department do not identify whether returning nurses are registered or formerly registered.

Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of registered and formerly registered nurses who are not employed as nurses and who are (a) under 30, (b) under 40, (c) under 50 and (d) under 60 years of age.

John Hutton: Data covering the number of registered and formerly registered nurses are collected by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC).
	The table is the Department's analysis of the data supplied.
	
		Nurses in England not working in the national health service
		
			 England—September 2000 Less than 30 30 to less than 40 40 to less than 50 50 to less than 60 Not known Total 
		
		
			 Nurses in England with effective registration who are not working in the NHS 29,020 48,240 47,990 35,290 30 160,580 
			 Nurses previously registered in England who have let their UKCC registration lapse 2,720 29,790 36,680 35,950 1,490 106,630 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Individual records have been matched to health authorities and regions in England by postcode. Where postcode data are inaccurate or missing records have been matched by town/city.
	2. Nurses have to register with the UKCC every three years to stay on the UKCC register.
	3. Figures relate to the area of practice at the time of registration.
	4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	UKCC databases analysed by the Department of Health

Deep Vein Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution his Department will make to the World Health Organisation study into deep vein thrombosis and air travel.

Jacqui Smith: The Department, in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is planning to make a contribution to the World Health Organisation study in terms of financial support and the provision of advice, the details of which are under consideration.

Palliative Care

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the money assigned to palliative care over three years has been spent; and if he will make a statement on how it was spent.

Jacqui Smith: By 2004 the national health service will be investing an additional £50 million which will match, on a national basis, the investment made by the voluntary sector. We will be monitoring the information from financial frameworks and cancer network service delivery plans to ensure that this investment is happening.

Plasmapheresis

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there is in the NHS for the treatment of severe sensitivity to light by plasmapheresis.

John Hutton: Facilities for plasmapheresis are available in many large national health service haematology or immunology departments. We are not aware, however, of any photosensitive eruption for which it is routine treatment and for which the NHS would provide facilities.

Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost per patient of prescribing atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 November 2001
	Information on the number of patients prescribed atypical antipsychotic drugs is not available.
	The average net ingredient cost per prescription item for atypical antipsychotic drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2000 was £70.06.
	The Department has asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Operations

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of operations carried out under the NHS were performed in the private sector in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: This information is not available in the form requested.
	The Department has recently surveyed health authorities and trusts on the amount of activity they are purchasing for national health service patients within the private sector and will publish key results in due course. The Department is also currently reviewing its information needs as far as NHS-funded activity in the private sector is concerned.

Primary Care Trusts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will be used to allocate funding to primary care trusts.

John Hutton: We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they allocate funding to primary care trusts, on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need.
	In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. This is subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation.

Waiting Times

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for (a) in-patient treatment and (b) out-patient appointments in each quarter of (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 for (a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months and (d) over 18 months.

John Hutton: The number of inpatients waiting less than six months; between six and 12 months; between 12 and 18 months; and over 18 months in each quarter of 2000 and 2001 are given in the table.
	More than half of the patients waiting over 18 months at end September 2001 are awaiting single use instruments for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. This is because the National Health Service has been advised only to carry out these procedures (when routine) using single-use supply instruments due to the theoretical risk of contracting vCJD. A sufficient supply of these instruments is now available, therefore we expect that the number of patients waiting for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy procedures on the list will start to reduce and we will be able to ensure treatment of actual and potential over 18 month waiters in the coming months.
	
		Inpatient data (trust based)
		
			   Number of patients waiting  
			 Quarter ending Less than 6 months 6–12 months 12–18 months More than 18 months 
		
		
			 March 2000 768,791 219,229 49,039 7 
			 June 2000 774,867 221,642 61,380 1 
			 September 2000 756,620 224,089 51,113 2 
			 December 2000 767,254 217,912 49,205 10 
			 March 2001 760,736 203,833 41,941 217 
			 June 2001 770,715 220,471 46,333 356 
			 September 2001 757,846 232,786 44,462 208 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health—KH07 quarterly return
	Data are not collected on the number of outpatients waiting in the time frames requested. However, data are collected on the number of outpatients waiting between three months and six months; and over six months. These data have been given in the table.
	
		Outpatient data (trust based) -- Number of patients still waiting for a first outpatient appointment following GP referral who have waited over 13 and over 26 weeks
		
			   Number still waiting  
			 Quarter ending 13–25 weeks Over 26 weeks 
		
		
			 March 2000 269,385 132,223 
			 June 2000 314,157 130,335 
			 September 2000 309,928 125,840 
			 December 2000 285,519 113,618 
			 March 2001 201,981 81,847 
			 June 2001 274,421 85,099 
			 September 2001 307,248 92,821 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health—QMO8 quarterly return

Waiting Times

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) each health authority and (b) in total, (i) the authority-wide resident-based (A) in- patient and (B) daycase waiting list target for March 2002, (ii) the authority-wide profiled target for such cases for October 2001, (iii) the number of patients waiting for (1) in-patient and (2) daycase treatment in October 2001, (iv) the difference between (i) and (iii) and (v) the difference between (ii) and (iv).

John Hutton: The latest information is given in the table. Data for October 2001 are not available until 7 December; therefore September 2001 data have been provided instead. There is a single profile for in-patients covering daycases and ordinary admissions.
	Profiles are a management tool to ensure maintenance of the manifesto commitment. They are used to review progress, and to inform discussion between the Department and health authorities. The manifesto commitment was achieved in March 2000 and has been maintained since.
	
		
			   Of which:
			 Name Total in-patient waiting list (September 2001) Ordinary patients Daycase patients In-patient waiting list profile for September 2001 Difference to September 2001 profile Percentage difference to September 2001 profile Waiting list plan for March 2002 
		
		
			 Hillingdon HA 4,167 2,341 1,826 4,001 166 4.1 4,059 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 4,477 2,552 1,925 4,456 21 0.5 4,504 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 10,349 5,019 5,330 10,542 -193 -1.8 11,197 
			 Bedfordshire HA 10,304 4,744 5,560 10,411 -107 -1.0 9,818 
			 Berkshire HA 14,495 6,962 7,533 14,568 -73 -0.5 14,008 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 13,221 6,857 6,364 12,960 261 2.0 12,928 
			 Croydon HA 6,561 3,189 3,372 6,848 -287 -4.2 6,630 
			 East Kent HA 16,414 7,750 8,664 16,278 136 0.8 15,625 
			 West Kent HA 24,236 10,311 13,925 22,827 1,409 6.2 23,748 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 7,122 2,490 4,632 7,233 -111 -1.5 6,999 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 15,914 8,290 7,624 15,964 -50 -0.3 16,274 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 10,084 4,753 5,331 9,878 206 2.1 9,977 
			 East Surrey HA 8,527 4,449 4,078 8,768 -241 -2.7 8,900 
			 West Surrey HA 14,644 6,383 8,261 14,339 305 2.1 14,550 
			 East Sussex Brighton and Hove HA 17,893 10,053 7,840 17,028 865 5.1 17,260 
			 West Sussex HA 18,714 9,705 9,009 18,640 74 0.4 18,554 
			 Barking and Havering HA 10,804 5,371 5,433 9,929 875 8.8 10,078 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 8,244 4,625 3,619 8,309 -65 -0.8 8,550 
			 Camden and Islington HA 6,083 3,671 2,412 5,662 421 7.4 5,418 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 13,734 6,801 6,933 13,178 556 4.2 13,188 
			 East London and City HA 11,388 6,549 4,839 11,514 -126 -1.1 11,590 
			 North Essex HA 20,872 10,095 10,777 20,925 -53 -0.3 22,027 
			 South Essex HA 17,408 7,165 10,243 16,522 886 5.4 16,908 
			 South Lancashire HA 7,936 3,485 4,451 8,355 -419 -5.0 8,540 
			 Liverpool HA 10,596 5,304 5,292 11,132 -536 -4.8 11,084 
			 Manchester HA 12,189 5,674 6,515 11,016 1,173 10.6 11,325 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 6,789 2,747 4,042 6,177 612 9.9 6,123 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley HA 9,514 4,590 4,924 8,794 720 8.2 8,627 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 12,828 4,965 7,863 11,401 1,427 12.5 11,233 
			 Sefton HA 7,430 3,420 4,010 7,297 133 1.8 7,251 
			 Stockport HA 7,249 3,754 3,495 6,740 509 7.6 6,632 
			 West Pennine HA 11,663 4,678 6,985 12,051 -388 -3.2 12,03 
			 Northamptonshire HA 13,728 6,508 7,220 13,255 473 3.6 13,196 
			 Oxfordshire HA 10,942 6,034 4,908 10,053 889 8.8 10,173 
			 Suffolk HA 15,255 7,703 7,552 14,363 892 6.2 14,999 
			 Barnsley HA 4,243 2,092 2,151 4,953 -710 -14.3 4,435 
			 North Derbyshire HA 8,202 3,529 4,673 8,735 -533 -6.1 8,600 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 12,470 5,099 7,371 12,824 -354 -2.8 12,800 
			 Doncaster HA 4,111 1,964 2,147 4,331 -220 -5.1 4,120 
			 Leicestershire HA 16,056 8,355 7,701 16,556 -500 -3.0 16,100 
			 Lincolnshire HA 15,717 7,370 8,347 16,195 -478 -3.0 16,600 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 7,976 4,131 3,845 7,847 129 1.6 8,000 
			 Nottingham HA 11,365 6,106 5,259 11,328 37 0.3 11,615 
			 Rotherham HA 3,819 2,019 1,800 3,696 123 3.3 3,700 
			 Sheffield HA 11,287 5,626 5,661 10,568 719 6.8 10,475 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 9,523 4,613 4,910 8,700 823 9.5 8,664 
			 North Cheshire HA 8,747 6,944 4,682 8,938 -191 -2.1 8,821 
			 South Cheshire HA 14,148 6,944 7,204 14,570 -422 -2.9 14,046 
			 East Lancashire HA 12,441 5,166 7,275 11,990 451 3.8 12,036 
			 North West Lancashire HA 11,350 4,564 6,786 11,560 -210 -1.8 11,704 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 10,508 5,667 4,841 10,059 449 4.5 10,088 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire HA 13,564 6,383 7,181 13,933 -369 -2.6 14,708 
			 Somerset HA 11,623 5,785 5,838 11,142 481 4.3 11,122 
			 South and West Devon HA 13,771 7,315 6,456 13,343 428 3.2 13,005 
			 Wiltshire HA 12,397 6,387 6,010 11,524 873 7.6 10,434 
			 Avon HA 21,492 11,959 9,533 19,981 1,511 7.6 19,990 
			 Birmingham HA 15,197 7,270 7,927 14,379 818 5.7 14,393 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 13,540 6,417 7,123 13,274 266 2.0 13,577 
			 Wirral HA 5,602 3,205 2,397 4,909 693 14.1 4,808 
			 Bradford HA 10,001 3,765 6,236 9,822 179 1.8 10,255 
			 County Durham and Darlington HA 11,508 5,635 5,873 11,209 299 2.7 11,313 
			 East Riding and Hull HA 11,637 6,144 5,493 11,673 -36 -0.3 11,807 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 7,671 3,471 4,200 7,778 -107 -1.4 8,244 
			 Leeds HA 13,675 6,890 6,785 13,510 165 1.2 14,286 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 6,945 3,584 3,361 7,696 -751 -9.8 7,839 
			 North Cumbria HA 7,497 3,069 4,428 7,478 19 0.3 7,752 
			 South Humber HA 7,848 2,837 5,011 8,474 -626 -7.4 8,310 
			 Northumberland HA 5,177 2,420 2,757 4,932 245 5.0 4,910 
			 Sunderland HA 6,095 2,817 3,278 5,911 184 3.1 6,127 
			 Tees HA 10,952 5,286 5,666 10,624 328 3.1 10,984 
			 Wakefield HA 6,721 3,492 3,229 7,087 -366 -5.2 7,394 
			 North Yorkshire HA 13,795 6,491 7,304 14,571 -776 -5.3 14,460 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 10,564 4,716 5,848 11,068 -504 -4.6 10,760 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 12,004 6,317 5,633 12,388 -384 -3.1 12,123 
			 Dorset HA 8,736 4,152 4,584 9,745 -1,009 -10.4 9,745 
			 North and East Devon HA 10,991 5,830 5,161 11,178 -187 -1.7 11,273 
			 Gloucestershire HA 8,205 3,879 4,326 7,920 285 3.6 7,935 
			 Coventry HA 4,807 2,575 2,232 4,152 655 15.8 4,187 
			 Dudley HA 4,792 2,327 2,465 4,627 165 3.6 4,327 
			 Herefordshire HA 2,792 1,338 1,454 2,048 384 15.9 2,630 
			 Sandwell HA 4,601 2,031 2,570 4,466 135 3.0 4,520 
			 Shropshire HA 7,012 3,984 3,028 6,705 307 4.6 7,053 
			 Solihull HA 3,487 1,689 1,798 3,448 39 1.1 3,523 
			 North Staffordshire HA 6,473 3,074 3,399 6,494 -21 -0.3 6,715 
			 South Staffordshire HA 12,667 5,800 6,867 12,530 137 1.1 12,767 
			 Walsall HA 2,741 1,533 1,208 2,576 165 6.4 2,608 
			 Warwickshire HA 10,345 4,679 5,666 9,507 838 8.8 9,780 
			 Wolverhampton HA 3,730 2,166 1,564 3,651 79 2.2 3,726 
			 Worcestershire HA 9,517 4,613 4,904 9,738 -221 -2.3 9,950 
			 Cambridgeshire HA 14,616 7,443 7,173 13,834 782 5.7 13,641 
			 Norfolk HA 18,493 8,589 9,904 18,301 192 1.0 17,442 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 14,876 7,373 7,503 12,681 2,195 17.3 13,026 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey HA 15,076 8,638 6,438 15,353 -277 -1.8 15,865 
			 Hertfordshire HA 21,513 11,141 10,372 21,897 -384 -1.8 22,373 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich HA 13,817 6,933 6,884 13,230 587 4.4 14,288 
			 England 1,022,300 497,793 524,507 1,005,411 16,889 1.7 1,007,728

Nursing Care

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nursing home beds per 10,000 population over 18, (b) residential places per 10,000 population over 18 and (c) mental health nursing home beds (EMI) per 10,000 weighted population there are in (i) the Buckinghamshire health authority area and (ii) England.

Jacqui Smith: The information available is given in the table. Details relating to 31 March 2001 will be published at the end of November 2001, in the Statistical Bulletin "Community Care Statistics 2001: Residential personal social services for adults, England".
	
		Rate of nursing beds, residential places and mental health nursing beds per 10,000 population aged 18 and over in the Buckinghamshire health authority area and England in 2000, as at 31 March 2000—rates per 10,000 population aged 18+
		
			   (i) Buckinghamshire health authority area (ii) England 
		
		
			 (a) Registered nursing beds 36 50 
			 (b) Residential places(8) 64 90 
			 (c) Mental health nursing home care beds(9) 2 7 
		
	
	(8) Information is presented for the combined area of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes
	(9) Registered nursing beds for client group of 'mental health' in general and mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics
	Source:
	Department of Health's annual returns

Nursing Care

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of nursing posts are vacant in (a) the Buckinghamshire health authority area and (b) England.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Department of Health Vacancy Survey 2001 -- Qualified nurses, midwives and health visitorswhole-time equivalents
		
			  3 month vacancy rates (Percentage) Number of 3 month vacancies Number of staff in post 
		
		
			 England 3.4 9,000 256,200 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 7.8 230 2,680 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2000–01 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
	2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies, plus staff in post from September 1999–2000 medical and dental and non-medical workforce censuses (whole time equivalent).
	3. HA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
	4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	6. England totals include staff form special health authorities.
	7. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding.
	8. Staff in post figures are taken from the Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census, September 2000.
	Source:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey

Social Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalents per 10,000 population work in social services in (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Milton Keynes and (c) England.

Jacqui Smith: As at 30 September 2000 the number of whole-time equivalent personal social services staff employed by local authorities per 10,000 population was 22.1 in Buckinghamshire, 32.1 in Milton Keynes unitary authority and 43.4 in England.

Children (Local Authority Care)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give his estimate for the number of looked after children in the care of local authority social services departments per calendar year in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is in the table. Figures are not collected on a calendar year basis but are supplied on the basis of years ending 31 March.
	
		Number of children looked after by local authorities, years ending 31 March, England
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1992 55,500 
			 1993 51,600 
			 1994 49,100 
			 1995 49,500 
			 1996 50,600 
			 1997 51,100 
			 1998 53,300 
			 1999 55,500 
			 2000 58,100 
			 2001 58,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude children accommodated under an agreed series of short-term placements.
	2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Department of Health annual statistical return SSDA 903

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what activities he includes under the heading of Adoption Support Services.

Jacqui Smith: The Adoption and Children Bill provides that adoption support services means counselling, advice and information in connection with adoption, and other such services as are specified in regulations. Our intention is that the adoption support services included in the regulations will include financial support.
	The White Paper "Adoption: a new approach" published in December 2000, a copy of which is available in the Library, includes examples of the types of services that could be provided in a comprehensive adoption support services. These include the provision of support groups for those affected by adoption, facilitating contact between adopted children and birth parents, providing practical help (such as respite care) to adoptive families, and child therapeutic services. The aim is to ensure that all those affected by adoption, particularly adoptive families, can be helped to effectively access mainstream services and also be provided with support to meet needs specific to the adoptive placement.
	The development of the national framework for adoption support is being informed by a stakeholder group and the work of the adoption and permanence task force. We intend to publish the framework for consultation in the spring and to finalise this in the light of the consultation responses prior to publishing draft regulations for consultation.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the likely impact of the Adoption and Children Bill within five years of enactment on (a) the number of children adopted, (b) the proportion of babies adopted as a percentage of the total and (c) the proportion of looked after children adopted as a percentage of the total compared with current figures.

Jacqui Smith: It is not possible to provide figures for the position five years after the enactment of the Adoption and Children Bill. However, a number of the provisions in the Bill will encourage more prospective adopters to come forward. In particular, the independent review mechanism should build confidence in the assessment process for prospective adopters and the adoption support frameworks should ensure that those adopting can be confident that they will receive the assistance they need to make any placement work. The Adoption Register for England and Wales will also facilitate the matching of children waiting for new families with approved adopters and help to increase the numbers of children being adopted.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his intentions are regarding increasing the number and nature of adoptions taking place across local authority boundaries.

Jacqui Smith: We expect to see an increase in the numbers of children placed across local authority boundaries, particularly of older children and sibling groups, as a result of increased consortia working and the impact of the Adoption Register for England and Wales.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to produce a report on the system of home studies for adoption placements.

Jacqui Smith: The White Paper "Adoption—a new approach", a copy of which is available in the Library, makes clear that the Department will carry out a fundamental review of the assessment process for adopters and the operation of adoption panels. Work has begun to determine the scope of this project and it is our intention to establish a stakeholder group to input to the process early in the New Year. We will bring forward proposals for consultation during 2002 and implement the resulting changes as part of the wider Adoption and Children Bill implementation.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely cost of regulation of voluntary adoption agencies under the terms of the Adoption and Children Bill as it relates to the Care Standards Act 2000.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the anticipated costs of regulation was prepared and included in the recent consultation document "Frequencies of Inspection and Regulatory Fees", a copy of which is in the Library.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when after Royal Assent he expects the terms of the Adoption and Children's Bill to come into force.

Jacqui Smith: We are considering the timetable for bringing the measures in the Adoption and Children Bill into force and will come to a view as the Bill makes its progress through Parliament.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is regarding fees which may be charged by adoption agencies in respect of the provision of services to persons providing facilities as part of the adoption service resulting from the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: Clause 11 of the Adoption and Children Bill enables the appropriate Minister (the Secretary of State in England and the National Assembly in Wales) to make regulations prescribing the fees which may be paid and charged by adoption agencies to organisations such as other adoption agencies and adoption support agencies in respect of the provision of services as part of the Adoption Service. We believe that the existing inter- agency fee system operated by adoption agencies should continue to operate as it does at the moment. However, we have promised to keep the inter-agency fee under review and this power will enable us to make any changes we may consider necessary at a future date.
	It is not our intention to enable local authorities to charge adopters or prospective adopters in respect of domestic adoption services, and nothing in Clause 11 permits them to do so.
	However, the Bill enables the appropriate Minister to make regulations prescribing the fees which may be charged by local authorities to adopters and prospective adopters in respect of intercountry adoption. It is intended that the regulations will enable local authorities to charge fees to contribute towards their costs in providing information, preparing and assessing prospective adopters, obtaining medical reports and police checks and preparing post-placement and post-adoption reports in respect of intercountry adoption cases. These charges will not be permitted to include any element of profit.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what study he has made of cases of criminal assault against birth parents by their adopted children; and how many such cases he has studied.

Jacqui Smith: There has been no such study. Concerns have been expressed about the small minority of cases where birth parents may be placed at some risk where access is provided to the birth records.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effectiveness at tracking adopted children in the system operating in England and Wales.

Jacqui Smith: Looked after children who are placed for adoption are monitored through central data collections and local tracking mechanisms in the same way as any other looked after child.
	Once an adoption order is made it would not be appropriate to track adopted children in this way. However, we are committed to securing long-term success and stability for adoptions. That is why in the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach", a copy of which is in the Library, we undertook to work with the relevant stakeholders to develop appropriate ways of obtaining regular information on the success of permanent placements, including adoption (for example, through voluntary anonymous surveys and through the provision of adoption support services). We will use this information to inform future policy developments and to help us to develop and set targets that focus on the success and stability of all permanent placements, both before and after the making of relevant Court Orders. We aim to set such targets by 2004–05.
	Next year, we shall develop an integrated children's system, a key theme of our Quality Protects programme, which will bring together planning and record keeping for children in need in the community and those looked after by local authorities. It will provide a single, coherent record for the child's case history until adoption and will help planning and decision making. The aim is to improve individual local authorities' information and record keeping.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the procedure for appeal against the findings of a panel will be and what complaints procedure will be available to the applicants in his proposals for setting up review panels in clause 12 of the Adoption and Children Bill;
	(2)  which ombudsman will be responsible for complaints against adoption review panels proposed in the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: To encourage more people to apply to adopt and to build confidence in the adopter assessment process, the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach" committed the Government to provide an independent review where an adoption agency intends to turn down a prospective adopter's application. A copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Library. The Bill includes powers enabling the appropriate Minister to make regulations to establish such a mechanism, which may be run by an independent body. The intention is that the independent review mechanism will review, at a prospective adopter's request, applications that adoption agencies have indicated they are minded to turn down. It is also intended to use the independent review mechanism to review adoption agency qualifying determinations about the disclosure of information concerning a person's adoption. It will remain the responsibility of the adoption agency to make a final decision after taking into consideration the recommendation of the independent review. Detail on how the review mechanism will work, the complaints procedure and the determinations that it will be used to review will be fully consulted on.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under clause 12 of the Adoption and Children Bill, to which organisations he might delegate his functions in respect of the operation of review panels.

Jacqui Smith: To encourage more people to apply to adopt and to build confidence in the adopter assessment process, the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach" committed the Government to provide an independent review where an adoption agency intends to turn down a prospective adopter's application. A copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Library.
	The Bill includes powers enabling the appropriate Minister to establish a mechanism, which may be run by an independent body, to review qualifying adoption agency determinations. Details of how the review mechanism system will work will be fully consulted on. Any organisation wishing to apply to operate the independent review mechanism will be required to demonstrate that it has the relevant expertise to enable it to perform this function.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the representations he has received regarding adoption since publication of the draft adoption Bill in March.

Jacqui Smith: We have received representations from the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Social Services, NORCAP, Adoption UK, Barnardos, and many other interested parties and private individuals.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the meaning of child's welfare in the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: Clause 1(2) of the Adoption and Children Bill makes the child's welfare the paramount consideration of the court or adoption agency in any decision about the adoption of a child. It brings the welfare test into line with that in the Children Act 1989, with the important addition that the court or agency must consider the child's welfare throughout his life, in recognition of the lifelong implications of adoption. Under Clause 1(3) the court or agency must also bear in mind that in general any delay is likely to prejudice the child's welfare.
	The "child's welfare" is not defined in the Bill, as is the position under both the Children Act 1989 and the Adoption Act 1976. Case law under the 1989 and 1976 Acts shows that the courts have given a wide interpretation to the term "welfare". Clause 1(4) sets out some of the issues that will be relevant in a "welfare checklist" that must be applied by the court or agency in determining the best interests of the child in any decision relating to adoption. It includes a requirement to have regard to the child's ascertainable wishes and feelings about the decision and to his particular needs. It also obliges the court or agency to have regard to the relationship the child has with his relatives, the prospects of and benefits to the child of this relationship continuing, the ability of his relatives to provide the child with a secure home and to meet his needs, and their views concerning the decision relating to the adoption of the child.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a preliminary list of those overseas countries to which Chapter 6 of the Adoption and Children Bill will apply.

Jacqui Smith: Chapter 6 of the Adoption and Children Bill covers all adoptions with a foreign element. This includes children habitually resident outside the British Islands brought into the United Kingdom by individuals habitually resident in the United Kingdom, whether they were adopted outside the United Kingdom or it is planned to adopt them in the United Kingdom. It also includes the taking out of the United Kingdom for adoption children who are Commonwealth citizens or habitually resident in the United Kingdom.
	Once the Bill is implemented overseas countries will fall into three distinct categories:
	(i) Those that have ratified the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. Prospective adopters will be required to follow prescribed procedures to adopt under the Convention. Convention adoptions will be automatically recognised in the United Kingdom. We are currently consulting on this system and the draft guidance and draft Regulations for England and Wales to be issued under the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999.
	(ii) Those that have adoption procedures that meet requirements prescribed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (following consultation with the National Assembly for Wales). These are specified "overseas adoptions" and will be recognised in the United Kingdom. The intention is to consult upon the criteria prior to making regulations. It is likely that they will be based upon the key principles enshrined in international law, including the law in the overseas country:
	ensures that the child has been freely given up for adoption and that this has not been induced by payment or compensation of any kind;
	makes attempts to place the child in a family in their own country;
	confirms that intercountry adoption is in the child's best interests;
	requires that the domestic and intercountry adoption arrangements and requirements are the same;
	ensures that profit is not made from the process;
	ensures that the prospective adopters have been assessed and approved as suitable to adopt in their home country.
	Prospective adopters habitually resident in the United Kingdom will be required to follow the prescribed procedures and satisfy conditions prior to adopting overseas to avoid committing an offence under Clause 80 of the Adoption and Children Bill.
	(iii) Those countries that have not ratified the Hague Convention and do not have procedures that meet the prescribed criteria for inclusion in the Order specifying "overseas adoptions". Any adoption order made in one of these countries would not be recognised under United Kingdom law and so any child brought into the UK from one of these countries would need to be adopted under UK law. Prospective adopters habitually resident in the UK will be required to follow the prescribed procedures and satisfy prescribed conditions prior to bringing a child back into the UK to avoid committing an offence under Clause 80 of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas adoption applications have been processed by his Department in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows how many overseas adoption applications the Department has processed in each of the last five years.
	
		Intercountry adoption applications processed by the Department of Health
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 351 
			 1999 277 
			 1998 258 
			 1997 221 
			 1996 310

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Adoption and Children Bill was published on 19 October 2001, the date of introduction of the Bill. It is available in the Library and on the Department's website.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his proposals are for which local authority should be responsible for the resourcing and provision of specialist educational provision for persons adopted outside of the original local authority's area.

Jacqui Smith: The Adoption and Children Bill provides a power to make regulations setting out where the responsibility lies for assessment and provision of adoption support services in cases where a child is placed with an adoptive family living in a different local authority area. We will use this power to make regulations which put in place a clear system for the provision of adoption support services in these circumstances. We will also make regulations to ensure the appropriate flow of funding between local authorities in such cases. These regulations will form part of the new framework for adoption support which we are currently developing. We intend to consult fully on the framework and the draft regulations, to ensure that we get the detail right.
	We also intend to issue guidance and directions to health authorities, primary care trusts and local education authorities to ensure the joined-up planning and provision of public services in connection with adoption.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of children subject to special guardianship orders which would be issued under Clause 110 of the Adoption and Children Bill as opposed to full adoption proceedings.

Jacqui Smith: It is impossible to estimate accurately the proportion of children who are likely to be the subject to a special guardianship order as compared with adoption. However, we believe the order will be of particular benefit to older children who do not wish to be adopted, but who do want the greater security offered by special guardianship. We have made it clear that special guardianship orders will be accompanied by access to a full range of support services including, where appropriate, financial support, to help the placement succeed. The responses to the consultation on the report of the performance and innovation unit's on adoption 1 were overwhelmingly in favour of creating such an order. We will continue to consult fully on how best to introduce the special guardianship order to optimise its use, where appropriate.
	1 Adoption: issued for consultation, (July 2000), Cabinet Office, London

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his proposals are for payment of allowances for the new special guardianship orders proposed in the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The White Paper "Adoption—a new approach", a copy of which is in the Library, made it clear that special guardianship orders would be accompanied by access to a full range of support services including, where appropriate, financial support, to help the placement succeed. This is reflected in the Adoption and Children Bill. The details of these arrangements will be included in a draft national framework for adoption financial support which we intend to publish for consultation next spring.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for encouraging the provision of intermediary services to people connected with adoption as a result of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The provision of intermediary services to people connected with adoption will be considered as part of the development of the adoption support framework promised in the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach", a copy of which is available in the Library.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to publish regulations relating to the provision of assessments and support services for people connected with adoption.

Jacqui Smith: We intend to publish our proposals for the handling of assessments for adoption support and a draft framework for the provision of adoption support services, including financial support, for consultation in the spring. After considering the consultation responses we will publish for consultation the draft Regulations to give effect to our final proposals under Clauses 2, 3 and 4 of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time for completion of adoption for children identified as potential adoptees under the age of one in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the duration of the period between 'best interest decision' and date of adoption has been collected centrally only since 1 April 2000. In order to show a 10-year time series, the data in the table show the average duration between the date of start of care and date of adoption for children who were aged under one when care started.
	
		Estimate number of children adopted from care during years ending 31 March 1993–2001 aged under one year at start of latest period of care, and the average duration of that period of care, England
		
			Average duration  
			  Number Years Months 
		
		
			 1993 1,150 2 7 
			 1994 1,000 2 8 
			 1995 930 2 9 
			 1996 910 2 7 
			 1997 890 2 5 
			 1998 1,190 2 7 
			 1999 1,270 2 2 
			 2000 1,520 2 2 
			 2001 1,710 2 2 
		
	
	Sources:
	1993 to 1997—SSDA903
	1998 to 2000—SSDA903 and Key Statistics
	2000-AD1 return
	At 31 March 2001, the average length of time between entry into care and the best interest decision for all children adopted was one year, one month.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the procedures for obtaining a child's ascertainable wishes as set out in the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: Clause 1(4)(a) of the Adoption and Children Bill provides courts and adoption agencies with a legal obligation to ascertain the child's wishes and feelings about all decisions relating to adoption, and to take them into account considering the child's age and understanding. The precise procedure will be set out for adoption agencies in regulations and guidance, and for the courts in court rules and in guidance.
	We intend to consult on the new draft regulations and guidance before the Bill's provisions are implemented.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foster parents are on the register of social services departments in each local authority in England and Wales; and how many were on the register in (a) 1990 and (b) 1995.

Jacqui Smith: Figures for 1990 and 1995 are not held.
	We do have data supplied to the Department by councils from 1998–99 when they applied for training support project grants at the beginning of each financial year to train/assess foster carers to the Care NVQ Level 3. These figures detail the numbers of foster carers who were contracted directly by the council and via independent fostering agencies.
	Data are as follows:
	
		Number of foster carers
		
			  Directly contracted by local councils Contracted by LCs via independent agencies Total 
		
		
			 1998–99 29,689 835 30,524 
			 1999–2000 30,166 1,085 31,251 
			 2000–01 30,003 1,502 31,505 
			 2001–02 30,343 2,023 32,366

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what advice he based his proposals to restrict the right of access to an adopted person's birth certificate and birth parent details granted in the Adoption Act 1976 as set out in Chapter 3 of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: Officials have advised me that section 51 of the Adoption Act 1976 has worked well in the vast majority of cases. However, since the 1976 Act there have been concerns about a small number of cases where there could be a risk to birth parents if they were traced through the birth records.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his intention to change the number of (a) voluntary organisations and (b) informal groups providing adoption support services in England and Wales.

Jacqui Smith: The Adoption and Children Bill includes new provisions requiring adoption support agencies to register with the National Care Standards Commission in England and with the National Assembly in Wales. Agencies in addition to adoption agencies which are registered with the National Care Standards Commission will be able to provide specialist support in connection with adoption. Registration in this way will ensure that such services are provided to a high standard.
	The Bill's provisions on registration of adoption support agencies will provide an improved level of protection for people receiving adoption support services. Our intention is to regulate organisations and individuals providing professional support services, not to prevent people from providing informal support in their own homes.
	We promised in our White Paper "Adoption: a new approach", published in December 2000, to develop new frameworks for adoption support and financial support. We will publish the frameworks for consultation in the spring. There may be a slight increase in the number of organisations providing adoption support as a wider range of services are made available under the frameworks.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the (a) selection of members, (b) qualifications and training of members, (c) payment of members, (d) scrutiny and (e) likely operating cost, in relation to review panels set up under Clause 12 of the Adoption and Children Bill; and at what stages he envisages review panels will operate.

Jacqui Smith: To encourage more people to apply to adopt and to build confidence in the adopter assessment process, the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach" committed the Government to provide an independent review where an adoption agency intends to turn down a prospective adopter's application. A copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Library. The Bill includes powers enabling the appropriate Minister to make regulations to establish a mechanism, which may be run by an independent body, to review qualifying adoption agency determinations. Details of how the review mechanism system will work, including the composition of the body and its membership, will be fully consulted on.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of reasonableness for a period of delay as used in the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: This will depend on the facts of the particular case.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for funding centrally the operation of the review panels under the Adoption and Children Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The cost of establishing and administering the independent review mechanism will be met centrally from the extra £66.5 million for adoption announced in the White Paper "Adoption—a new approach", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. We have promised to consult on the detail of how the independent review mechanism will operate, to ensure that we get it right. The running costs of the review mechanism will be taken into account in the forthcoming spending review.

Capital Spending Projects

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those capital spending projects being negotiated in the NHS where the lead on building and management involves an overseas firm or organisation.

John Hutton: Detailed negotiation information is only held centrally on private finance initiative projects with a capital value of £25 million and over. No information is held centrally regarding the country in which the bidders are either registered or owned. Information is therefore supplied for all trusts which have shortlisted or preferred bidders, ie: the stage at which negotiations begin. These are listed in the table.
	
		
			 NHS trust Consortia name Builder Facilities management 
		
		
			 Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals 1. Concept Healthcare 1. Kier 1. Building and Property 
			  2. Healthcare Projects 2. Skanska 2. Medirest 
			 Havering Hospitals 1. Byhave Ltd. 1. Bouygues 1. Ecovert 
			  2. Catalyst 2. Bovis 2. Sodexho 
			 Gloucestershire Royal Gloucester Healthcare Partnerships Balfinger and Berger M and W Zander 
			 University Hospitals Warwickshire and Coventry Skanska Innisfree Skanska ISS Mediclean 
			 Central Manchester Healthcare 1. Catalyst Healthcare 1. Bovis 1. Sodexho 
			  2. Mowlem Health Solutions 2. Mowlem 2. Aqumen 
			  3. New Hospitals 3. Taylor Woodrow 3. Medirest 
			 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare Balfour Beatty Charterhouse Balfour Beatty Haden

North Bristol NHS Trust

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if hospital improvement plans submitted by the North Bristol NHS Trust are among the proposals by trusts that he has prioritised for capital investment under his 10 year plan.

Hazel Blears: No detailed proposals for a major redevelopment of hospital services have yet been submitted to the Department by the North Bristol National Health Service Trust.

SCOTLAND

Section 28 (Local Government Act)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 in Scotland;
	(2)  what representations she has received about the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: I have received no representations about—and made no assessment of the effect of—the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 in Scotland.

TREASURY

Special Purpose Vehicles

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury (a) monitors and (b) offers advice to other Government Departments on special purpose vehicles.

Andrew Smith: The Treasury does not monitor special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Where it is directly involved in individual public-private partnerships, the Treasury will take a close interest in the performance of the contractual counterparties, including where these are SPVs. Its role in agreeing broad strategies and approaches to the use of SPVs will not involve it in advising Departments in special cases.
	As part of its operational and business guidance for Departments, the Office of Government Commerce published in October guidance on the financial appraisal of suppliers, which includes advice on assessing bidders' financial and economic standing, whether they are SPVs or single companies.

Vocational Training Relief

Robert Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will replace the vocational training relief.

Dawn Primarolo: In his pre-Budget statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined the Government's new approach to training and to tackling the intermediate skills deficit in the UK work force.

HIPC Initiative

Andy Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the HIPC initiative on the debt levels of the HIPC nations; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The UK believes that the enhanced HIPC initiative is working and already 24 countries have qualified for debt relief. According to World bank and IMF estimates these countries will, on average, have their debts reduced by two-thirds, this will bring their debt service ratios to below the developing country average. The World bank and IMF also estimate that HIPC is delivering US$2.4 billion annually to those countries that have reached Decision Point, and that these countries are allocating about 75 per cent. of their debt relief to social services, such as education and health. Of these, four countries have exited the process and have benefited from irrevocable debt cancellation. The UK continues to work hard to ensure that the HIPC initiative is a success, and to ensure it delivers a sustainable exit from debt for the poorest countries. The UK continues to push for other countries to adopt its policies of offering 100 per cent. interim relief, and holding payment in trust for those countries that have to yet benefit from interim relief.

Arundel and South Downs

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people received (a) tax credits and (b) means- tested benefits in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs in each year since April 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information for Arundel and South Downs is in the table:
	
		Recipients of (a) tax credits and (b) certain income related benefits in the Arundel and South Downs constituency
		
			  Working families tax credit (WFTC)/family credit (FC) Disabled persons tax credit/disability working allowance (DWA) Income support (IS) Jobseeker's allowance (income based) (JSA) Total 
		
		
			 May 1997 700 10 3,500 600 4,800 
			 May 1998 500 17 3,100 200 3,800 
			 May 1999 600 20 3,000 300 3,900 
			 May 2000 700 20 2,900 200 3,069 
			 May 2001 900 17 3,200 100 3,324 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Apart from DPTC and DWA, the figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample. They are subject to sampling error and therefore shown to the nearest hundred.
	2. Recipients of WFTC/FC or DPTC/DWA who also receive IS or JSA are included only in the first two columns. This eliminates double counting in the total.
	3. WFTC and DPTC replaced FC and DA from October 1999.
	4. DPTC and DWA figures are for April.
	Sources:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1997-May 2001
	Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1997-May 2001
	Working Families' Tax Credit/Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1997-May 2001
	Disabled Person's Tax Credit/Disability Working Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries April 1997-April 2001
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are not available for the Arundel and South Downs constituency. The table shows figures for the local authorities overlapping the constituency:
	
		Total housing benefit and council tax benefit case load for local authorities overlapping the Arundel and South Downs constituency, May 1997-May 2001
		
			   Total:  
			 Local authority/period Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 Arun   
			 May 1997 7,820 10,900 
			 May 1998 7,310 10,120 
			 May 1999 7,420 10,190 
			 May 2000 6,640 9,200 
			 May 2001 6,330 8,840 
			
			 Chichester   
			 May 1997 5,450 6,620 
			 May 1998 5,160 6,270 
			 May 1999 5,130 6,310 
			 May 2000 4,570 5,510 
			 May 2001 4,460 5,580 
			
			 Horsham   
			 May 1997 4,780 5,680 
			 May 1998 4,580 5,370 
			 May 1999 4,320 4,990 
			 May 2000 4,050 4,680 
			 May 2001 4,030 4,700 
			
			 Mid Sussex   
			 May 1997 4,700 5,660 
			 May 1998 4,270 5,020 
			 May 1999 4,080 4,770 
			 May 2000 3,670 4,310 
			 May 2001 3,960 4,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 cases.
	3. If the local authority failed to respond, figures for the missing data will have been estimated.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. case load stock-count taken each May from 1997 to 2001.

Euro

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to seek revision of the framework set down by the Stability and Growth Pact as part of the preparations for UK euro entry.

Ruth Kelly: The Government have said that they will only recommend joining a successful single currency if it is in our national economic interest to do so, and if the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. The five tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case can be made.

Pensions

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many members of defined contribution pension schemes are paying the (a) higher rate and (b) standard rate of tax;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of members of defined contribution pension schemes paying the (a) higher rate and (b) standard rate of tax.

Dawn Primarolo: Available estimates for 2001–02 are contained in the table, it is not possible to break down those contributing to occupational schemes according to whether they are in defined benefit or defined contribution schemes. All those contributing to personal pensions will be in defined contribution schemes.
	
		Thousands 
		
			  Number of individuals with contributions  
			  Occupational pension schemes(10) Personal pension schemes(11) 
		
		
			  Marginal rate of income tax 
			 Basic rate 8,000 3,500 
			 Higher rate 2,000 500 
		
	
	(10) Approximate estimates based on overall numbers from the GAD survey of occupational pension schemes and survey data on the earnings distribution of contributors.
	(11) Approximate estimates based on overall numbers from plan managers, survey data, and relief claimed on tax returns by higher rate and self-employed contributors. Figures are provisional and consistent with the 1999–2000 Survey of Personal Incomes projected to 2001–02 levels of earnings and prices.

Pensions

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many defined contribution occupational pension schemes are covered by the pre-1987 tax regime; and how many members of such schemes there are;
	(2)  how many defined contribution occupational pension schemes are covered by the 1987 to 1989 tax regime;
	(3)  how many occupational pension schemes are covered by the (a) pre-1987 and (b) 1987 to 1989 tax regime.

Ruth Kelly: Latest estimates from the Government Actuary's Department Survey of Occupational Schemes (1995) suggested that there were 8.8 million active members in 38,000 defined benefit occupational schemes; 1.1 million members in 109,000 defined contribution occupational schemes; and around 0.3 million members in 4,000 mixed defined benefit/defined contribution schemes. It is not possible to derive from this survey or from other sources how many schemes and members are covered by the different tax regimes.

Railtrack

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 267W, on the accounting treatment of the successor organisation to Railtrack, on what date he received a reply from the Office for National Statistics; and if he will place in the Library advice given by the ONS on the accounting treatment of other possible successor organisations to Railtrack.

Andrew Smith: ONS replied on 5 October to Treasury's request of 3 October for advice on the accounting treatment of a company limited by guarantee that was a possible successor organisation to Railtrack. ONS has not given any advice on other possible successor organisations to Railtrack.

Inland Revenue Investigations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue make inquiries into family backgrounds in advance of looking at the financial affairs of the individual into whom they are inquiring.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not routinely look into family backgrounds before commencing a tax inquiry. But there are circumstances in which it would be relevant to do so. For example, the main reason for considering whether to inquire might be that an individual's reported income seemed much lower than his probable expenditure.
	In such a case the Revenue might look at the financial position of others in the household to see whether their incomes and, therefore, possible contribution to family finances might account for any perceived shortfall. Preliminary research of this kind helps to focus inquiries on those cases presenting the biggest risks.

Capital Assets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, what guidelines the (a) National Audit Office and (b) Treasury issue on how to classify who bears the risks and rewards associated with an asset.

Andrew Smith: Generally accepted accounting practices are used to determine who bears the risks and rewards associated with an asset, and hence its accounting treatment. These are applied by accountants working for departments, and subsequently audited by the National Audit Office (NAO). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) follows the same treatment for national accounts.
	The Treasury's "Resource Accounting Manual" makes clear that all complex transactions should be accounted for under the overriding principles of the Accounting Standards Board's (ASB) Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 5 "Reporting the Substance of Transactions". Such transactions include those where ownership of capital assets reverts to the public sector, for leasing transactions, the more specific principles of the ASB's Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (SSAP) 21 "Accounting for Leases and Hire Contract Contracts". For Private Finance Initiative transactions, more specific guidance is given in the Treasury document "Technical Note no. 1 (revised)—How to Account for PFI Transactions", which sets out additional practical guidance on how to apply the ASB's Application Note "Amendment to FRS5—Private Finance Initiative and Similar Contracts".
	The aspect of the question relating to National Audit Office guidelines has been referred to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission who can respond on behalf of the NAO.

Inland Revenue (Informers)

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to Section 32 of the Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890, what criteria the Commissioners of Inland Revenue employ to determine whether to exercise their discretion afforded by the Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890 to reward an informer; when these criteria were established; and how they differ from the criteria previously in force.

Dawn Primarolo: Financial rewards can be made to an informer following the conclusion of an inquiry where tax is recovered as a result of the information provided. In deciding the amount of any reward, the Commissioners have regard to the amount of tax recovered. Calculation details are not disclosed since this would enable an informer to estimate the amount of tax recovered, which would breach the Revenue's duty of confidentiality to the taxpayer.
	It is not possible to say whether these criteria have applied unaltered since the enactment of 1890, but they have remained unchanged for many years.

National Insurance (Married Women)

Richard Page: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to inform working women of the consequences of paying the married women's rate of National Insurance.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to Inland Revenue leaflet CA 13 "National Insurance contributions for women with reduced elections". The leaflet, which was updated in May 2001 and can also be found on the Inland Revenue website, explains what contributions married women pay and the implications for future contributory benefit entitlement resulting from keeping their reduced liability.
	The Inland Revenue undertook a major publicity exercise in October 2000 writing to around 250,000 married women who had previously elected to pay reduced rate National Insurance contributions. The letter advised them to consider their elections following recent structural changes to National Insurance contributions. A dedicated helpline was set up to provide further information and assistance and some 63,000 telephone inquiries were received.
	The September 2001 edition of the Employers Bulletin, which again can be found on the Inland Revenue's website, included an article about married women's reduced rate contributions recommending action that employers should take on a regular basis to remind their employees, who pay a reduced rate, what information they need to report which could affect their National Insurance liability.

NHS (Additional Spending)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of additional spending on the NHS since 1997.

Andrew Smith: Government Departments are required to demonstrate that all their expenditure on services provides value for money. The Public Service Agreement between the Treasury and the Department of Health requires NHS trusts to converge over time on a benchmark defined by the cost of care commissioned from NHS trusts which perform well against indicators of fair access, quality and responsiveness. The Treasury monitors progress against the benchmark regularly.

Climate Change Levy

David Cameron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the operation of the Climate Change Levy; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: As with all taxes, the Climate Change Levy is reviewed as part of the normal Budget process.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Armed Police

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to armed police to deal with firearms situations involving suspects suffering from mental illness.

John Denham: The basic training that all new recruits receive includes an element that raises awareness of mental illness and highlights the importance of communicating effectively and sensitively with people suffering from a mental disorder. Individual forces also provide further training for their officers on these issues. Details are not held centrally of all such local provision.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers Manual of Guidance on police use of firearms recognises that people suffering from mental illness may not realise the seriousness of the situation they are in or respond 'normally' to conventional negotiating strategies. The guidance stresses the importance of police negotiators, armed officers and Firearms Incident Commanders having an understanding of people who suffer from mental illness and suggests some actions which may reduce the risk of firearms use. It also stresses that a person's impairment does not reduce the potential harm they may inflict if the incident is not resolved, and that it is the role of the police to deal with the threat irrespective of motive.
	It is important that the Government should continue to explore with the police all possible options for ensuring that officers are able to deal with such incidents effectively and in a way that protects the public and police officers.
	In conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers and Northern Ireland Office, we are currently reviewing, as a matter of priority, the range of 'less lethal' alternatives to firearms. As one would expect, all have differing levels of risk and effectiveness associated with them, and any advantages of such alternatives have to be properly and fully assessed against any disadvantages.
	In addition, under section 79(1) of the Police Act 1996, I have asked the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to report on the lessons to be learned from investigations supervised by them since January 1998 into incidents in which police shootings occurred and which resulted in death or injury. The PCA have begun work on this review, and I have asked them to report within six months. The report will be laid before Parliament and published.

Fingerprinting

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quality control systems are in place to ensure the accurate retrieval of fingerprints found at the scene of a crime.

John Denham: The training of a fingerprint expert requires that before that person is registered as an expert, he/she must be competent to deal with the process for retrieval of fingerprints from a scene of crime, together with accurate recording of that process. That process includes a requirement to take a Polaroid photograph indicating precisely where the fingerprint has been lifted from and sign across edge of the tape once the fingerprint has been lifted. The essential steps to ensure the probity and continuity of the exhibited fingerprint have been tried and tested within the Criminal Justice System on countless occasions. They meet the high standards of integrity required by our courts.
	15 Forces have the ISO9002 Quality Standard for its procedures and have attained that quality standard. The remainder have met an agreed national Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) standard which is audited at least once a year by an independent audit process.

Fingerprinting

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the fingerprint service in the United Kingdom.

John Denham: I do not have plans to review the fingerprint service in the United Kingdom. The Association of Chief Police Officers created a Project Group to review the fingerprint evidential standard in 1996. Only after a meticulous programme of work spanning five years, including a comprehensive review of the processes and procedures within all 42 fingerprint bureaux in the 43 Forces in England and Wales, was the evidential standard changed on 11 July 2001.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for removing failed asylum seekers.

Angela Eagle: The public service agreement target is to enforce the immigration laws more effectively by removing a greater proportion of failed asylum seekers. Latest information on performance against the target will be published in the 'Asylum Statistics Q3 2001 United Kingdom' on 30 November.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for improving the satisfaction of victims and witnesses with their treatment in the criminal justice system.

Keith Bradley: The 2000 British Crime Survey showed that 58 per cent. of victims were satisfied with their treatment by the criminal justice system. An equivalent figure from the 2001 British Crime Survey is awaited.
	The 2000 Witness Satisfaction, which was the first national survey of witnesses, showed that 75 per cent. of witnesses were very or fairly satisfied with the treatment they received. A similar survey in 2002 will show whether the proportion of satisfied witnesses has increased.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the public service agreement target for efficiency savings in the Police Service.

John Denham: I am pleased to say that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has reported that all 43 police forces in England and Wales achieved the two per cent. efficiency savings required in 2000–01 under the public service agreement. The requirement included an obligation for efficiency gains to be used for the benefit of front line policing. A copy of the HMIC report is in the Library.

UK Youth Parliament

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the manifesto submitted to the Government for comment by the UK Youth Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I shall be responding as soon as possible to the manifesto on behalf of the Government.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been obtained and how many further orders are awaiting court hearings, broken down by area, since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on their impact on antisocial behaviour.

John Denham: holding answer 22 November 2001
	Official statistics on the number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBO) taken out are based on quarterly returns received from Magistrates' Courts Committees. A review identified an undercount and my Department therefore undertook an exercise with the police to obtain more reliable figures. As a result of this reconciliation exercise the total number of ASBOs issued up until the end of September this year was 466, which is 184 more than previously reported. A breakdown by area is given in the table.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of applications for ASBOs awaiting court hearing.
	Since their introduction in April 1999 ASBOs have been used successfully in a variety of cases and have made a real difference for the better in people's lives.
	
		Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued as from -- 1 April 1999 to 30 September 2001 by police force area
		
			   ASBOs 
		
		
			 Police force area Issued 
			 Avon and Somerset 28 
			 Bedfordshire 2 
			 Cambridgeshire 8 
			 Cheshire  
			 Cleveland 10 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Derbyshire 12 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10 
			 Dorset 4 
			 Durham 10 
			 Essex  
			 Gloucestershire 4 
			 Greater Manchester 24 
			 Hampshire 4 
			 Hertfordshire 9 
			 Humberside 11 
			 Kent 15 
			 Lancashire 16 
			 Leicestershire 5 
			 Lincolnshire 1 
			 Merseyside 17 
			 Metropolitan Police(12) 40 
			 Norfolk 17 
			 Northamptonshire 3 
			 Northumbria 15 
			 North Yorkshire 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 16 
			 South Yorkshire 6 
			 Staffordshire 10 
			 Suffolk 5 
			 Surrey 4 
			 Sussex 7 
			 Thames Valley 7 
			 Warwickshire 3 
			 West Mercia 47 
			 West Midlands 65 
			 West Yorkshire 15 
			 Wiltshire  
			 Dyfed Powys  
			 Gwent 1 
			 North Wales 1 
			 South Wales 2 
			 England and Wales 466 
		
	
	(12) Including City of London.

Criminal Records Bureau

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what other Home Office contracts have been awarded to the company providing the Criminal Records since 1997 and were completed to (a) time and (b) budget.

John Denham: Information available for other contracts awarded to Capita by my Department since 1997, which were completed (a) on time and (b) on budget, is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Company Contract 
		
		
			 1997 Capita(13) Designing and Managing Building Projects 
			 199899 Capita EC Environment/Space Planning 
			 1998 Capita Business Service Recruitment of General Managers 
			 1998 Capita Training Conferences and Training 
			 1999 Capita Business Service Consultancy Support 
			 1999 Capita Business Service Productions of Purchase Manual 
			 1999 Capita Business Service Efficiency Review 
			 2000 Capita Business Service HMP Blakenhurst Bid Team 
			 200001 Capita Business Service Quantum Project 
		
	
	(13) Advisory contracts for which Capita was not the prime contractor

Criminal Records Bureau

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress with the Criminal Records Bureau;
	(2)  what is the (a) original and (b) latest (i) completion date and (ii) cost for the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 449W.
	It has always been the intention that the Criminal Records Bureau should be self-financing by means of the charges that it makes for the Disclosures that it produces.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask chief constables in England and Wales for a report on the effectiveness of Regulation 12 of the Motorway Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982, as amended, in their county areas.

John Denham: The enforcement of motorway regulations is an operational matter for chief officers of police. I understand from the Association of Chief Police Officers that they consider that the prohibition of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) and coaches from the outside lane of motorways enhances traffic flow and affords other drivers some degree of protection from large vehicles. Most HGV drivers observe the prohibition, although a small minority exercise poor lane discipline which can cause annoyance to other motorists. There is, however, little evidence to suggest that this is a significant problem, and we do not consider that a review of the regulation is necessary at this time.

Thames Valley Police

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded crimes per 1,000 population there were in each of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in the Thames Valley police area in the last year for which figures are available.

John Denham: Details of recorded crime figures for violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary in a dwelling, theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a vehicle are collected centrally for each Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) in England and Wales. The most recent information is available in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 1201, entitled 'Recorded Crime: England and Wales, 12 months to March 2001', published on 19 July 2001. The details for Thames Valley CDRPs are given in the table.
	
		Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas in Thames Valley police force area: Number of crimes recorded by the police per 1,000 -- populationApril 2000 to March 2001
		
			  Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary dwelling Theft of a motor vehicle Theft from a vehicle 
		
		
			 Aylesbury Vale 6.3 0.4 0.8 3.3 3.4 12.9 
			 Bracknell Forest 6.3 0.4 0.5 3.2 4.5 11.0 
			 Cherwell 6.7 0.3 0.2 2.8 4.2 9.1 
			 Chiltern 3.4 0.3 0.5 4.0 3.2 7.6 
			 Milton Keynes 10.0 0.8 1.0 5.8 7.4 11.6 
			 Oxford 13.2 0.7 2.3 10.8 8.6 17.3 
			 Reading 10.8 0.8 3.7 12.8 11.6 25.4 
			 Slough 11.1 0.8 2.7 12.4 10.1 40.3 
			 South Bucks 4.1 0.3 0.8 13.0 6.9 30.6 
			 South Oxfordshire 4.1 0.3 0.1 5.4 3.6 9.5 
			 Vale of White Horse 4.9 0.6 0.2 3.1 3.0 5.0 
			 West Berkshire 4.5 0.3 0.3 3.0 3.1 10.3 
			 West Oxfordshire 3.8 0.3 0.2 1.9 1.7 5.6 
			 Windsor  Maidenhead 8.3 0.5 0.7 7.1 4.9 23.9 
			 Wokingham 3.1 0.2 0.7 5.6 3.4 12.4 
			 Wycombe 6.2 0.4 0.8 7.4 5.5 12.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Crime rates based on resident population may give a misleading impression in areas where numbers of non-residents, such as commuters and visitors, are significant.

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures will be available to public authorities to protect the academic confidentiality of information contained in project licences held under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 after the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is implemented.

Angela Eagle: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 covers a wide range of public authorities including public sector academic institutions. The right of access will apply to information held by such institutions subject to the conditions and exemptions set out in the Act.
	Section 41 of the Act exempts as a class information obtained from any other person if its disclosure would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person. Other exemptions in the Act which may be relevant to applications to academic institutions for information relating to project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 relate to personal information the disclosure of which would contravene the data protection principles set out in the Data Protection Act 1998 (section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act); and commercial interests (section 43).
	It is impossible to judge hypothetically what would or would not be disclosed, as all requests under Freedom of Information will be assessed on a case by case basis. But the Government believe that the Act achieves a proper balance between the right to know, the right to privacy and the preservation of confidentiality where disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
	The timetable for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act was recently announced. Implementation will be in stages with the duties on public authorities to apply Publication Schemesdetails of the information they will provide pro-activelybeing introduced first. This will be staggered for different parts of the public sector. The individual right of access will follow in January 2005.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to change the (a) resource departmental expenditure limit and (b) administration costs limit for her Department in 200102.

Clare Short: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the Department for International Development Departmental Expenditure Limit for 200102 will be increased from 3,114,570,000 to 3,127,152,749. The Administration Cost Limit will increase from 67,246,000 to 67,561,000. Within this DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the table.
	
		 
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change 12,582,749  
			 New DEL 3,127,152,749  
			 Of which:   
			 Voted 2,450,932,749  
			 Non-voted 676,220,000  
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	A transfer of 22,656,813 from DFID's non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) to the Ministry of Defence for Conflict Prevention in sub-Saharan Africa;
	A transfer of 4,435,438 from DFID's non-voted DUP to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Conflict Prevention in sub-Saharan Africa;
	A transfer of 8,900,000 from the FCO to DFID for Global Conflict Prevention;
	A transfer of 100,000 from DFID's non-voted DUP to the Cabinet Office (SIA) for Conflict Prevention in sub-Saharan Africa;
	A transfer of 15,000,000 from the Reserve in support of a new International Monetary Fund Poverty Reduction Growth Facility for Pakistan;
	A transfer of 15,000,000 from the Reserve in support of humanitarian relief in Afghanistan;
	A transfer of 570,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for a contribution to the refurbishment of BHC Lusaka;
	A transfer of 10,000 to the Home Office for DFID's contribution to the Groupe d'etats Contre la Corruption (GRECO);
	A transfer of 510,000 from the Cabinet Office for the Civil Service Modernisation Fund;
	A transfer of 195,000 to the Cabinet Office for funding of Fast Stream Recruitment.
	The increase will be met by inter-departmental transfers or from the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on (a) the progress of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) her recent visit to the region and (c) the latest International Crisis Group report on the Inter-Congolese dialogue.

Clare Short: I had a useful visit to the region in August where I met with Presidents Kagame and Museveni, President Kabila and Mr. Bemba, Mr. Onusumba and representatives of MONUC among others to discuss the importance of moving the Lusaka Peace Process forward. These have been some promising signs in recent months with no major ceasefire violations, the start of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (due to reconvene in the new year), and more frank discussions about disarmament, demobilisation, and re-integration. But the situation remains fragile. The international community needs to give its full support to pushing all the elements of the Lusaka Peace Process forward, including the Inter- Congolese Dialogue.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will respond to the UN report of the Panel of Exports on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular section III part D.

Clare Short: We welcome the publication of the revised report last week. We believe it is an improvement on the previous highly flawed report. We shall raise any specific allegations with the Governments concerned and press them to take action to investigate substantiated allegations against groups and individuals. But we also believe that the way forward for the regionincluding better management of mineral resourcesis the full implementation of the Lusaka peace accord.

Angola

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the sanctions against terrorists in Angola since the publication of the third report of the Monitoring Mechanism on Sanctions against UNITA.

Clare Short: We welcome the Monitoring Mechanism's latest report in October. The report is currently under discussion by the Security Council and we look forward to a timely follow-up.
	The Government fully support the sanctions imposed by UNCSRs 864, 1127, and 1173 as a means of bringing UNITA to the negotiating table. We are currently investigating two UK companies named in the latest report and hope to report back to the Sanctions Committee shortly.

Malawi

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions her Department is taking to promote good governance in Malawi; and what assessment she has made of the decision of major donors to suspend development aid to the country.

Clare Short: Malawi is an extremely poor country with very weak capacity in all government systems. We are implementing a 34 million programme aimed at improved safety, security and access to justice for poor and vulnerable people, by strengthening the judiciary and reform of the police and prison services. We are assisting the Anti Corruption Bureau and Ombudsman's office, and we are helping to improve public expenditure management.
	All donors are at present maintaining their programmes in Malawi.

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the collapse of Taliban rule on the scale of population displacement in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the willingness of the Northern Alliance and other non-Taliban forces (a) to permit and (b) to assist in the distribution of humanitarian aid;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the continuing need for air drops as a means of supplying emergency food aid to the Afghan people following the collapse of Taliban rule;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the opportunities to render accelerated humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people as a result of the collapse of Taliban rule.

Clare Short: Where there have been improvements in the security situation, some international staff of humanitarian agencies have returned to Afghanistan, and access to these parts of the country has increased. However, while the changing situation has resulted in some people in the north of the country being able to return to their homes, continued fighting in the south has caused further displacement. Because of ongoing security concerns, access to vulnerable groups in this regions is extremely limited.
	The UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator met with the leadership of the United Front-led Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan on 20 November in Kabul. The UN has received assurances from the leadership that they will help to ensure the safety and security of UN national and international staff. Improved security is key to enhancing the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance to those in need. We, and the rest of the international community, will continue to urge the authorities in Afghanistan to assist with the relief effort, and to help stabilise the environment in which the humanitarian community are trying to operate.
	Efforts are under way to maximise the delivery of assistance into Afghanistan, especially in the worst affected areas of the North. The World Food Programme is working to maximise the delivery of food by road, including in areas of Afghanistan worst affected by winter. WFP has launched its first airbridge from Tajikistan to Faizabad in Northern Afghanistan. Four flights a day are planned to use this route over the next few weeks, despatching a total of 2,000 tons of food. Airdrops are still being seriously considered as a fall-back measures. WFP, with assistance from my Department, are well advanced with contingency plans for air drops using identified drop zones. Again, this is heavily dependant on security considerations.

Fair Trade

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the value of fairly traded (a) tea and (b) coffee used in her Department in each of the last five years.

Clare Short: Fairtrade coffee was introduced in our East Kilbride office in September 1999 and in London in June 1998. In East Kilbride, no tea is sold, but the value for coffee is:
	September 1999-December 2000: 1,925
	2001: 10,150.
	In London, in 1998 and 1999 coffee was served at hospitality functions only. Tea was introduced in 2000, and both tea and coffee were offered for general sale from January 2000. Figures are:
	1998: Coffee 1,245
	1990: Coffee 2,004
	2000: Coffee 4,185. Tea 320
	2001: Coffee 4,868. Tea 310.

Ministerial Visits

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the developing countries visited by her Under-Secretary of State for International Development in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and countries expected to be visited in (f) 2002, (g) 2003 and (h) 2004.

Clare Short: The Under-Secretary of State for International Development visited:
	South Africa, Montserrat and Ukraine in 1997
	Colombia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Brazil, Fiji, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan and South Africa in 1998.
	Montserrat, Egypt, Central America, Palau, Cambodia, Poland and South Africa in 1999.
	Romania, Moldova, Kosovo and Kazakhstan in 2000.
	Kyrgyzstan, Albania, Indonesia and Malawi in 2001.
	The Under-Secretary of State plans to visit Ukraine in December 2001 and Bangladesh in the first quarter of 2002. No visits have been planned beyond this.

Scottish Devolution

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by (a) primary legislation and (b) Order in Council.

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 748W.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Disability Access

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he is taking to improve disability access to courts in England and Wales; and what financial resources are being made available for this purpose.

Michael Wills: At the end of 1997 the Court Service commissioned the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) to devise a methodology to enable it to conduct disability access audits of all its courts and offices. It involved Court Service personnel who had been trained in the process visiting every building on the estate to identify where they failed to meet the standards required and what remedial work would be required.
	On this basis, a three year programme of works was devised (starting in 200102) to enable works to be completed well in advance on the 1 October 2004 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 deadline for physical improvements. 5 million has been set aside for this year and targeted on the principal court centres across the estate.
	Under the Justices of the Peace Act 1997, the provision and improvement of magistrates courthouse accommodation is a matter for each Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) to determine, in consultation with the local paying authority or authorities. Since 2000, the Department has provided 2.5 million to enable MCCs to improve facilities for the disabled in magistrates courts across England and Wales. Officials will shortly be assessing the 200203 bids received from MCCs for further improvement works.

Disability Access

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice his Department has given to court staff on assisting disabled people attending court.

Michael Wills: Every public office has a Customer Service Officer whose training includes considering the needs of disabled customers. To support that service, in October 1999 every member of Court Service staff was given a booklet containing guidance on assisting disabled customers. The booklet suggests ways of helping people with a range of disabilities. It also outlines arrangements for provision of assistance such as large print leaflets and communication support for deaf people. All relevant Court Service training events cover disability issues. A liaison officer is available at Court Service Headquarters to assist with disability issues.

Disability Access

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what cover is provided to court employees by court service insurance policies when dealing with people with disabilities.

Michael Wills: The Court Service does not provide any insurance cover for its employees.

Disability Access

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which court buildings in England and Wales have been assessed as disability- friendly.

Michael Wills: I am advised that there is no definition within the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 of 'disability-friendliness' against which to make such as assessment.
	However, in so far as Part M of the Building Regulations 1991 require the design of new and refurbished buildings to enable disabled people to gain independent access into and within the building, all new court builds and major court refurbishments completed since 1992 could be said to be 'disabled-friendly'. It is not possible, in the time available, to provide specific details.
	I would also refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply, which sets out the steps which my Department is taking to improve disabled facilities in courts by the 1 October 2001 deadline set by the DDA.

Court Service

Kali Mountford: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will publish the Court Service annual report for 200001.

Michael Wills: The Court Service annual report for 200001 has been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Tom Levitt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to amend the Lord Chancellor's Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limits for 200102.

Rosie Winterton: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Request for Resources 1, the Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Expenditure Limit for 200102 will be increased by 22,034,000 from 2,732,900,000 to 2,754,934,000. The increase is the net effect of take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement of: 9,000,000 in respect of Capital Modernisation Fund; 1,031,000 in respect of DEL capital expenditure; 1,355,000 in respect of an award from the Invest to Modernise Fund; 408,000 in respect of the Invest to Save Budget; awards from the Capital Modernisation Fund totalling 1,888,000 in respect of new projects and 1,174,000 from the Invest to Modernise Fund; transfers in respect of transfers of business from the Home Office in the sum of 614,000; from the Department for Work and Pensions in the sum of 20,000; from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in the sum of 100,000 and from the Ministry of Defence in the sum of 176,000. Transfers of business arising from the Machinery of Government changes of 406,000 from Cabinet Office and 5,862,000 from Home Office are also included in this supplementary estimate.
	The Administration cost limit for the Lord Chancellor's Department Request for Resources 1 will be increased by 5,344,000 from 612,786,000 to 618,130,000. The increase is caused by take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement of 1,355,000; an award of 1,174,000 from the Invest to Modernise fund; Transfers in respect of transfers of business from the Home Office in the sum of 480,000; from the Ministry of Defence in the sum of 176,000; from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in the sum of 100,000 and to the Department for Work and Pensions in the sum of 200,000. Transfers of business arising from the Machinery of Government changes of 406,000 from Cabinet Office and 1,853,000 from Home Office are also included in this supplementary estimate.
	The increases will be offset by transfers from the Departmental Expenditure Limits of the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Local Government, Transport and the Regions, and the Ministry of Defence, take-up of End Year Flexibility entitlement, an award from the Invest to Modernise Fund and awards from the Capital Modernisation Fund and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Freedom of Information

Jim Knight: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will report to Parliament his proposals for bringing fully into force those provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which are not yet in force.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor has today laid a Report on the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before both Houses. Copies of the Report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Judges' Accommodation

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the (a) units of residential accommodation owned or rented by the Lord Chancellor's Department for occupation by judges on circuit, (b) accumulative capital value of the same when last valued, (c) the running costs of maintaining the same for the financial years (i) 199798, (ii) 199899 and (iii) 19992000 and (d) the number of judges accommodated in the same for each of the above years and the number of nights they were so accommodated.

Michael Wills: A list of the units of residential accommodation owned or rented by the Lord Chancellor's Department for occupation by judges on circuit is contained in table 4.
	The Capital Value of the Freehold Lodging Estate was 10.84 million as at June 2000.
	The total cost of running the judges' lodgings during the three years in question was:
	
		Table 1
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 199798 4,776,684.08 
			 199899 5,232,956.97 
			 19992000 4,785,683.07 
		
	
	The number of High Court judges accommodated in the lodgings over the three years in question was:
	
		Table 2
		
			 Year Number of judges accommodated 
		
		
			 199798 84 
			 199899 81 
			 19992000 88 
		
	
	The number of nights judges were accommodated in the lodgings over the three years in question was:
	
		Table 3
		
			 Year Number of nights accommodated 
		
		
			 199798 6,143 
			 199899 6,185 
			 19992000 6,116 
		
	
	
		Table 4
		
			 PropertyJudges' Lodgings Property tenure 
		
		
			 Birmingham Leasehold 
			 Bristol Leasehold 
			 Caernarfon Hiring 
			 Cardiff Freehold 
			 Carlisle Hiring 
			 Chelmsford Leasehold 
			 Chester Freehold 
			 Exeter Hiring 
			 Leeds Leasehold 
			 Leicester Hiring 
			 Lewes Leasehold 
			 Lincoln Hiring 
			 Liverpool Leasehold 
			 Maidstone Freehold 
			 Manchester Freehold 
			 Mold Leasehold 
			 Northampton Hiring 
			 Norwich Freehold 
			 Nottingham Freehold 
			 Oxford Leasehold 
			 Plawsworth Freehold 
			 Plymouth Hiring 
			 Preston Freehold 
			 Reading Freehold 
			 St. Albans Freehold 
			 Sheffield Freehold 
			 Stafford Hiring 
			 Swansea Freehold 
			 Truro Hiring 
			 Warwick Hiring 
			 Winchester Leasehold 
			 Worcester Hiring

WORK AND PENSIONS

Analytical Job Evaluation Schemes

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the work force is covered by analytical job evaluation schemes.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	No systematic data are collected on the prevalence of job evaluation schemes across the economy. Job evaluation schemes tend to be used by large private sector employers and by many parts of the public sector.

Attendance Allowance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of attendance allowance there are broken down by each nation and region as at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the extent of underclaiming of attendance allowance.

Maria Eagle: The latest available information on the number of people receiving attendance allowance is in the table.
	
		People in receipt of attendance allowance at 31 May 2001
		
			 Country and Government Office Region People in receipt 
		
		
			 Great Britain 1,290,000 
			 England 1,064,500 
			 North East 62,800 
			 North West 178,700 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 112,100 
			 East Midlands 97,300 
			 West Midlands 134,500 
			 East 112,100 
			 London 112,500 
			 South East 130,600 
			 South West 123,900 
			 Wales 95,800 
			 Scotland 129,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Estimates of the amount of underclaimed attendance allowance are not routinely made.
	Source:
	Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data.

Lone Parents

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents on income support have been subjected to a sanction because they have failed to attend a personal adviser interview.

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents have had income support reduced as a sanction under the new deal for lone parents; and what provision is made for sanctions to be applied in the case of lone parents who attend interviews but decline to co-operate in the process of looking for work.

Nick Brown: Sanctions are not applied under the new deal for lone parents as it is a voluntary programme. However, since April 2001, lone parents with a youngest child of school age (at least five years and three months old) have been asked to take part in a meeting with a personal adviser to discuss the range of help available to move into work when they make a claim for income support.
	Lone parents currently claiming income support are being invited to a compulsory personal adviser meeting, on a rolling programme, starting this year with those with a youngest child of 13 to 15 years.
	If lone parents currently claiming income support fail to attend a compulsory personal adviser meeting their benefit is sanctioned. This has happened in 362 cases up to 26 October. If the lone parent subsequently participates in a personal adviser meeting then the sanction is lifted. Lone parents are not required to take further action beyond participating in a personal adviser meeting.

ONE Service

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that personal advisers in the ONE programme are adequately trained in work-focused initiatives.

Nick Brown: There is a Learning and Assessment Framework (LAF) in place for the ONE pilots, which supports the structured training and development of the staff performing various roles in ONE offices. As part of this, all personal advisers undertake an assessment of knowledge and skills required to carry out their job. This self-assessment covers all areas of their work as advisers, including competence in conducting work-focused interviews. Where training needs are identified, the LAF provides information on the various learning tools available through ONE Training Team, Benefits Agency and Employment Service Regional Training Centres. To meet their training needs attendance on a course or open learning may be appropriate, or they may arrange to meet with local voluntary organisations to widen their knowledge and understanding of clients with special needs. Regular reviews of the progress made towards meeting identified learning needs is an integral part of the staff performance and appraisal system.

ONE Service

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the provision of separate information on the outcome of participation in ONE by people with mental illnesses; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Results from the ONE evaluation about the experiences of sick or disabled people, including those with mental illness, have been published in the Department's Research Series (numbers 126, 139, 140, 149 and 150) and In-house report number 84.
	Sick or disabled clients, including those with mental illness, have generally viewed the ONE service positively. When personal advisers have tailored their help to clients' circumstances, their advice and guidance has been well received.
	The ONE client survey examines experiences of and outcomes from ONE for different groups of clients. Information on clients' individual characteristics, including the nature of their health problems, was also collected. Where differences between the experiences of clients with mental illnesses compared with sick or disabled clients as a whole are identified, these will be reported. The first survey information relating to clients with mental illnesses should be published later this year.

Teenage Parents (Jarrow)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance is available to teenage parents in the Jarrow constituency to get (a) work, (b) education and (c) training.

Nick Brown: Teenage parents aged 18 or over are able to take full advantage of new deal for young people, which offers tailored help in finding work or suitable training, and improving prospects of remaining in sustained employment.
	Teenage lone parents in receipt of income support can choose to join the new deal for lone parents, which offers a package of advice and support, including information on training opportunities, employment, in-work benefits, and child care arrangements. An in-work support service is also provided to help lone parents make the transition into employment.

Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilots

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to make further announcements about the structure and scope of the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The aim of the job retention and rehabilitation pilot is to provide robust evidence about the overall impact of job retention and rehabilitation services and their cost effectiveness, and the relative impact of three intervention strategies (boosting help in the workplace; in health care services; and both in the workplace and through health care).
	The feasibility of delivering this in practice through a live service to clients is currently being assessed through the three month Feasibility Phase of the pilot which is due to end on 18 January 2002. Nine prospective delivery organisations are being supported to fully develop, cost and submit proposals for service delivery that are fully consistent with evaluation requirements. The evaluator contracted for the feasibility phase, the National Centre for Social Research, will report on the feasibility of the pilot as a whole in the context of service delivery bids submitted to the Department.
	We would expect to make an announcement on the future of the pilot, its structure and scope, after we have fully considered the outcome of the feasibility phase.

Fair Trade

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what is the value of fairly traded (a) tea and (b) coffee used in his Department in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what fairly traded products, other than tea and coffee, have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and what was their value.

Nick Brown: Information on expenditure on fairly traded products is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The majority of fair trade goods are obtained by outsourced services, eg catering. Civil servants buy a coffee or tea of their choice for their own consumption.

Public Bodies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will list those public bodies to which his Department appoints members and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000;
	(2)  if he will list those public bodies which are the responsibility of his Department and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000.

Nick Brown: Public Bodies 2000 sets out information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), certain public corporations (including nationalised industries) and NHS bodies. There are four types of NDPB: executive NDPBs; advisory NDPBs; tribunal NDPBs; and boards of visitors to penal establishments. The next edition will be published around the end of the year. Information about task forces, annual reports, and ad hoc advisory groups is set out in an annual report published by Cabinet Office. Copies of Public Bodies 2000 are in the Library of the House and this publication may be accessed via Cabinet Office's website http:// www.official-documents.co.uk/document/caboff/pb00/ pb00.htm. Copies of the annual report on task forces and similar bodies have also been placed in the Library of the House and the annual report is being made available on Cabinet Office's website.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State appoints members and is responsible for the following public bodies which do not appear in the Public Bodies 2000 publication: Disability Rights Commission (DRC), Independent Living Fund (ILF), Independent Review Service (IRS), Social Fund Commissioner (IRS for the Social Fund) and the 10th Anniversary Trust.
	Responsibility for the Appeals Service and Motability lie with the Department for Work and Pensions although my right hon. Friend does not appoint members. the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) makes appointments for the Appeals Service and Motability board members are drawn from finance, industry, the professions, trade unions and voluntary organisations.

Local Bodies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of his Department and its predecessors since May 1997.

Nick Brown: The Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training (ACDET), the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), Race Education and Employment Forum (REEF) and the Appeals Service (TAS) are those bodies set up since May 1997 and are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. ACDET was set up in June 1998, REEF on 16 November 1999, and DRC and TAS in April 2000.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what were the gross costs of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for (a) the Social Security Benefit Up-rating (No. 2) Order 2000 and (b) the Social Security Fraud Bill (revised).

Ian McCartney: These costs are shown in the published regulatory impact assessments which are available in the Library.

Winter Fuel Payments

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many older people will receive winter fuel payments this winter in Tynemouth constituency.

Ian McCartney: Last winter, around 19,300 people aged 60 and over in Tynemouth constituency received a winter fuel payment. The figure for this year will be similar.

Winter Fuel Payments

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many older people will receive winter fuel payments this winter in the Loughborough constituency; what plans he has to extend winter fuel payments to other groups in receipt of benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Last winter, around 15,000 people aged 60 and over in the Loughborough constituency received a winter fuel payment. The figure for this year will be similar. There are no plans to change the existing regulations.

Pensions Service

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local advisers will be assigned to each local office of the new Pensions Service; what its total staffing complement will be; and if he will make a statement on plans to offer claimants a personal interview if requested.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 23 November 2001
	The Pension Service will provide a customer-focused service dedicated to the needs of today's and future pensioners. It will be modern and efficient, and accessible by telephone, post, in time the internet and locally where pensioners need to do so. It will work to join up services for pensioners both locally and nationally and will build on existing best practice.
	There will be a local service in each area offering a face to face service for those customers who need it. In addition the local service will work with other locally based organisations to provide information on the full range of local services of interest to pensioners through outreach and visiting activity. The design and size of the local service is currently being planned.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) record is kept and (b) assessment made of the destinations of people who leave the new deal for lone parents for employment.

Nick Brown: Records of the destination of people leaving the new deal for lone parents are published monthly in the Statistical First Release, which is available in the Library.

New Deal

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made on the effectiveness of the new deal for lone parents in south Tyneside.

Nick Brown: We are giving lone parents more choices and more help than ever before to move off welfare and into work. The new deal for lone parents is a key part of this range of support and has helped over 100,000 lone parents to find work.
	By the end of August, 2,116 lone parents had joined the new deal for lone parents in the Gateshead and south Tyneside district. 301 of these lone parents have taken up education or training opportunities and 1,064 have moved into work.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those on the new deal for lone parents left for employment in the last 12 months, broken down by region.

Nick Brown: Across Great Britain 56 per cent. of those leaving the new deal for lone parents left for employment during the last 12 months.
	A regional break down is provided in the table.
	
		Proportion of people leaving new deal for lone parents for employment, August 2000-July 2001
		
			 Employment service region Percentage 
		
		
			 Scotland 62 
			 Wales 63 
			 Northern 60 
			 North West 57 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 66 
			 West Midlands 52 
			 East Midlands and Eastern 59 
			 South West 58 
			 London and South East 46

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects of the new deal for lone parents on levels of employment and benefit take-up among lone parents.

Nick Brown: The following reports have been commissioned but have not yet been published:
	
		
			 Date expected Title 
		
		
			 Spring 2002 Synthesis Report 2002 
			 Spring 2003 Quantitative Survey of Lone Parents 
		
	
	The following reports have already been published:
	
		
			 Date Title 
		
		
			 June 2000 The New Deal for Lone Parents: A Review of Evaluation Evidence 
			 April 2001 Jobfinders Grant: Research amongst lone parents 
			 August 2001 New Deal for Lone Parents: An Evaluation of the Innovative Pilots 
			 October 2001 NDLP Evaluation: A Quantitative Survey of Lone Parents on Income Support 
		
	
	The Statistical First Release, published monthly with information from the NDLP database, also includes useful information.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered the new deal gateway (a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more in respect of the (i) new deal for lone parents, (ii) new deal for young people, (iii) new deal for the over 25s, (iv) new deal for the over 50s and (v) new deal for disabled people.

Nick Brown: At August 2001, 697,400 people had entered the new deal for young people programme. Of these 100,200 clients have entered the programme twice and 9,100 have entered three or more times.
	At August 2001, 355,400 people had entered the pre-April 2001 new deal 25 plus programme. Of these 65,150 clients have entered the programme twice and 11,150 have entered three or more times.
	Information is not available on the number of people re-entering the new deal for lone parents, the new deal for disabled people or new deal 50 plus.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of the new deal for the over 50s on levels of employment and benefit take-up among the over 50s.

Nick Brown: Although there has been a considerable amount of research into benefit take-up by pensioners, there is none which has been specifically targeted at the over 50s.
	Research of new deal 50 plus has been commissioned. The research reports (with dates where published) are:
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: qualitative evidence from clients: first phaseJuly 2000
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: qualitative evidence from ES and BA staff: first phaseAugust 2000
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: qualitative evidence from ES and BA staff: second phaseMarch 2001
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: qualitative evidence from clients: second phaseMarch 2001
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: Research with Individuals (Wave 1)September 2001
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: Research with Individuals (Wave 2)September 2001
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: qualitative evidence from clients: third phaseNovember 2001
	Evaluation of new deal 50 plus: Summary Report.
	Copies of the published reports can be found in the Library.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants in the new deal have received (a) training and (b) subsidised employment in the construction industry in each year since 1997.

Nick Brown: We estimate that since April 1998 about 12 per cent. of subsidised employment starts in the new deal for young people have been in the construction industry. All subsidised employment participants receive training. Construction training can also be accessed through the further education and training option.

New Deal

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) male and (b) female members of each ethnic group have participated in the new deal from the Wycombe constituency since it was set up.

Nick Brown: Figures are not available for the new deal for disabled people and the new deal for partners. Due to the small volumes involved, figures for the other new deals broken down by ethnic group are not published at constituency level because of the risk of identifying individuals.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set in respect of the new deal for the over 50s in the next 12 months.

Nick Brown: New deal 50 plus forms part of the A2 annual performance agreement (APA) target, which aims to get 410,000 people into work in 200102. The A2 target also includes the new deal for young people, new deal 25 plus, employment zones, jobseeker's allowance long-term unemployed and people with disabilities not counted under other APA targets.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants in the new deal for 50 plus received training grants in each of the last 12 months.

Nick Brown: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Month Numbers claiming the new deal 50 plus training grant 
		
		
			 October 2000 112 
			 November 2000 120 
			 December 2000 124 
			 January 2001 133 
			 February 2001 140 
			 March 2001 189 
			 April 2001 150 
			 May 2001 183 
			 June 2001 166 
			 July 2001 155 
			 August 2001 180 
			 September 2001 158

New Deal

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the new deal 50 plus in Coventry.

Nick Brown: New deal 50 plus has been operating nationally since April 2000. In the first 18 months of national operation over 51,000 people have been helped into work, including 350 people in Coventry.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 160W, which Government Departments have taken on staff through the new deal programme since its inception.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 901W.

New Deal

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 160W, how many participants in (a) the new deal for young people and (b) the new deal for the long-term unemployed have entered (i) employment and (ii) sustained employment lasting more than 13 weeks in Government Departments in each year since 1997, broken down by each Department.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions further to his answer of 6 November 2001, Official Report, column 195W, on industrial injuries disablement benefit, for what reason information is not available on claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit which have been refused as a result of the applicant's condition being caused through work processes and not as a result of accident or prescribed disease.

Nick Brown: In general we do not keep records of the reasons for disallowing claims for benefit where to do so would serve no purpose. If, in the course of reviewing scientific and medical developments, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council recommends changes to the way conditions caused by work processes are dealt with under the industrial injuries scheme, we will consider those recommendations and monitor the number of cases affected.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received from training providers affected by the closure of the ILA scheme for an introduction of another scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 22 November 2001
	We have received representations from a number of Individual Learning Account (ILA) registered providers expressing disappointment about the withdrawal of the programme. Many have also offered their help in the development of our future plans. We welcome their offers and will take advantage of their experience. I hope to announce more details on the process for developing a further scheme in due course.

Individual Learning Accounts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were under investigation in relation to individual learning accounts (a) before 30 October and (b) at the latest available date.

John Healey: Before 30 October 2001 29 cases had been taken up for investigation by the Department's Special Investigations Unit. As at 27 November 2001 this had increased to 60 cases. The police are currently involved in five cases.

Individual Learning Accounts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she consulted training providers before bringing forward the suspension of the Individual Learning Account scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Because of the need to take immediate action it was not possible to consult training providers. The Department for Education and Skills called in police to investigate new allegations of fraud and theft involving Individual Learning Accounts. Officers from the Department's Special Investigations Unit had confirmed the allegations on Thursday 22 November. With the advice of the police and to prevent serious risk to public funds, the ILA programme was shut down on Friday 23 November.

Individual Learning Accounts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what considerations informed her decision to bring forward the suspension date for individual learning accounts.

John Healey: The Department for Education and Skills called in police to investigate new allegations of fraud and theft involving individual learning accounts. Officers from the Department's Special Investigations Unit were alerted to those allegations on Wednesday 21 November and confirmed them on Thursday 22 November. With the advice of the police and to prevent a serious risk to public funds, the ILA programme was shut down on Friday 23 November.

Individual Learning Accounts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many complaints had been received in relation to the operation of individual learning accounts (a) before 30 October and (b) at the latest available date.

John Healey: Up to 31 October 2001 there had been 8,448 (0.33 per cent.) complaints received concerning the operation of individual learning accounts. As at 19 November 2001 the number of complaints had increased to 10,276 (0.41 per cent.). Just over a quarter of complaints have raised questions about non-compliance of learning providers with the rules of the ILA scheme.

Individual Learning Accounts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the public expenditure consequences of the operations of the individual learning account scheme between 30 October and 23 November.

John Healey: We cannot give a figure for expenditure between 30 October and 23 November.
	There are still significant numbers of payments due in respect of claims already made by learning providers and committed expenditure in respect of learning already booked by providers on the ILA Centre system before it was shut down on 23 November. Because of the police investigation into allegations of fraud and abuse we do not, currently, have access to Capita's ILA Centre system on which the data are stored. We also need to validate both the claims and the bookings held on the ILA Centre system and take action to recoup moneys which have been improperly claimed. As a result it is not possible to estimate the extent of the additional financial commitment at present.

FE Course Costs

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made for the current financial year of the average cost per student following a two-year curriculum 2000 programme in (a) a school sixth form, (b) a sixth form college and (c) a tertiary college.

Ivan Lewis: The department does not publish the average cost per student of a two-year Curriculum 2000 programme. However, the latest estimate of the average delegated funding per sixth form student in schools per year for 200102 is 3,330. The total funding per full time equivalent student in FE sector colleges per year in 200102 is 3,660. Separate figures for sixth form colleges and tertiary colleges are not available. It should be noted that the two unit funding figures quoted are not directly comparable, as the FE unit funding includes total public funding allocated for further education, while the schools' figure is based only on delegated funds and excludes other funding which the school receives centrally from LEAs which impact on post-16 students.

Class Sizes (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average secondary school class size was in (a) the County of Somerset and (b) the constituency of Yeovil in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		Average class sizes in maintained secondary schools: Classes taught by one teacher
		
			 January each year Somerset LEA Yeovil parliamentary constituency 
		
		
			 1996 23.2 23.9 
			 1997 23.2 23.2 
			 1998 23.9 24.2 
			 1999 23.9 24.1 
			 2000 23.6 24.8 
			 2001 23.9 (14) 
		
	
	(14) Not available